2021-316-Housing-EHA Reimbursement

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EXHIBITA TO THIS AMENDMENT In response to the COVID - 19 pandemic, the U . S . Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) modified federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) guidelines , and temporary subsistence payments for housing and utility assistance is now eligible as a public service activity for impacted households for up to six consecutive months . HUD also removed the public services cap for FY 2019 -2020 and FY 2020 -2021 so communities receiving CDBG funding are able to spend more than 15 % of funds for public service activities to respond to the pandemic . Additionally, the U . S . Congress allowed for additional allocations of CDBG coronavirus specific funding (CDBG-CV) through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (Pub . L . 116436) (CARES Act) . As a CDBG Entitlement community, the Town of Chapel Hill has received direct allocations of CDBG- CV funding which must be used only for activities to prevent, prepare for, and/or respond to coronavirus . In response to an identified community need, and to prevent an increase in evictions and homelessness as well as utility disconnections during the pandemic , the Town of Chapel Hill adopted 2 resolutions to approve the use of CDBG funding to provide Emergency Housing and utility Assistance (EHA) to low to moderate income households in Chapel Hill struggling from the economic impacts of COVID - 19 . The resolutions include : ® 2020- 09 - 09/R-2 : Amending the 2019 -2020 CDBG Program plan to allocate $ 169 , 728 of 2019 -2020 CDBG funding for this purpose ® 2021 - 01 -27/R- 5 : Amending the 2020 -2021 CDBG Program plan to allocate $ 1 , 85 , 399 in 2020 -2021 CDBG and $ 135 , 733 in CDBG- CV funding for Emergency Housing Assistance , Orange County will serve as the lead entity administering the Emergency Housing Assistance program in accordance with federal CDBG guidelines found in 24 CFR 570 . 208 , 2 CFR 200, and CARES Act . This includes but is not limited to collecting applications and documentation to verify the eligibility of the households receiving assistance ( at a minimum household size, total household income, and coronavirus impact) . Invoices along with household demographics will be required to reimburse direct costs of assistance provided and ensure CDBG compliance . Orange County may invoice up to 10 . 00 % of total CDBG- CV allocation in administration costs for program delivery . Federal Assistance — Amendment — April 2020 Page 3 of 6