Agenda - 11-05-20; 6-c - Emergency Housing Assistance Program Update and Request for Supplemental Funding

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Eviction Diversion Program attorney, for those needing reasonable modifications to their homes due to their disability that is necessary to keep them stable in housing, and for homeowners’ facing foreclosure as HOPE does not provide funds for mortgage assistance. The Housing Department has also used flexible EHA funds to increase the utilization of Housing Choice Vouchers. The Department recently sent out more than 100 applications for the Housing Choice Voucher program for residents meeting the homelessness preference in the Orange County Housing Authority’s Administrative Plan. While the new Housing Access Coordinator funded by the County and Towns has helped recruit landlords in accepting vouchers, security deposits are needed as well as application fee assistance for these units in order for residents in need of affordable housing to access them – especially those who are the most vulnerable in our community. Since January 2020, 2.5% of EHA funding (about $42,000) has gone to these activities. Based on these numbers and in anticipation of increased need, as families fall out of housing due to lost income and the expiration of CARES funds and eviction protection at the end of 2020, we anticipate that at least $60,000 is needed in order to continue providing security and utility deposits, moving costs, and application fees through June 2021. In order to continue providing flexible EHA rent and utility assistance for those who do not qualify for the supplemental State and Federal funds, we anticipate at least $200,000 additional funding is needed for EHA through June 2021. Research shows that housing assistance, such as that provided through EHA, reduces hardship and increases economic opportunity for low-income families.1 .There is also research showing that preventing eviction can reduce costs to the health care system, lower costs and reduce the burden on shelter and other emergency housing programs, ease the administrative burden on the courts, reduce job loss, reduce negative educational outcomes, and prevent the decline of communities that occurs when people are displaced.2 This combined impact is due to the continuing community-wide effort to prevent evictions and homelessness in Orange County. Additional local funds allows the Housing Department to continue this work to keep people stable in housing and access new affordable housing through the County’s existing Emergency Housing Assistance fund. FINANCIAL IMPACT: $100,000 allocated to the Local Rent Subsidy Program will be reallocated to the Emergency Housing Assistance fund to help pay for security deposits, moving costs, and application fees for residents who need access to affordable housing. SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: The following Orange County Social Justice Goals are applicable to this item: • GOAL: FOSTER A COMMUNITY CULTURE THAT REJECTS OPPRESSION AND INEQUITY 1 Center for Budget and Policy Priorities (2019, December 5). Research Shows Rental Assistance Reduces Hardship and Provides Platform to Expand Opportunity for Low-Income Families. https://www.cbpp.org/research/housing/research-shows-rental-assistance-reduces-hardship-and-provides-platform- to-expand 2 Stout Risius Ross. (2018, November). Economic return on investment of providing counsel in Philadelphia eviction cases for low-income tenants. Philadelphia Bar Association. https://www.philadelphiabar.org/WebObjects/PBA.woa/Contents/WebServerResources/CMSResources/Philadelphi aEvictionsReport.pdf 3