Laserfiche WebLink
California Emergency Rental Assistance Program <br />Expression of Intent <br />On December 27, 2020, the federal Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021, a $900 <br />billion COVID-19 relief bill, was signed into law and $25 billion was allocated to the <br />United States Treasury (UST) for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) to <br />assist households that are unable to pay rent or utilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. <br />California will receive $2.6 billion of the federal ERAP funds. To implement these rental <br />assistance resources, the state of California worked with the state Legislature to <br />develop a programmatic framework that eases administrative burden and most <br />effectively deploys these resources to those most in need. <br />On January 28 the State Senate and State Assembly passed the COVID-19 Tenant Relief <br />Act (SB 91), extending eviction protections through June 30, 2021 and creating a <br />mechanism to deploy $2.6 B in Federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) <br />resources to assist struggling tenants and landlords impacted by COVID-19. <br />In an effort to understand how local jurisdictions plan to deploy these rental assistance <br />resources, the state is requesting Counties and Cities with populations of 200,000 and <br />above that are eligible for a direct allocation from the UST to complete an Expression of <br />Intent survey by February 3, 2021. Jurisdictions are encouraged to submit their responses <br />as soon as possible. <br />By February 12, the same Cities and Counties with populations of 200,000 and above will <br />be required to complete a final Expression of Intent Form submitted to the Department <br />of Housing and Community Development (HCD) indicating: <br />A.The Jurisdiction will participate in the State Program and will also direct its Federal <br />Allocation through the State Program to serve its population. <br />B.The Jurisdiction requests a State Block Grant and will conform to the State <br />Program Rules when self-administering a combined Federal Allocation and State <br />Block Grant local program. <br />C.The Jurisdiction will not conform to the State Program Rules, will self-administer <br />the Federal Allocation, acknowledges that the State will also serve its population <br />via the State Program, and accepts responsibility for duplication of benefits <br />checks between the two programs. <br />Based on the final Expression of Intent Form, HCD will issue a Standard Agreement to <br />eligible jurisdictions that select A or B to facilitate the transfer of funds either from the <br />jurisdiction to HCD (option A) or from HCD to the jurisdiction (option B). <br />EXHIBIT 7EXHIBIT 1