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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPre-LegislationCity of Miami 5 Y Legislation Resolution: R-20-0139 File Number: 7401 City Hall 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, FL 33133 www.miamigov.com Final Action Date: 4/30/2020 A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH ATTACHMENT(S), APPROVING AN EMERGENCY RENTAL AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AS SPECIFIED IN EXHIBIT "A," ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED, TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO ELIGIBLE LOW INCOME TENANTS IN THE CITY OF MIAMI ("CITY") WHO HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS DUE TO THE OUTBREAK OF THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE ANY AND ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, ALL IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, FOR SAID PURPOSE, SUBJECT TO ALL FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LAWS THAT REGULATE THE USE OF SUCH FUNDS. SPONSOR(S): Mayor Francis X. Suarez, Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla, Commissioner Ken Russell, Commissioner Joe Carollo, Commissioner Manolo Reyes WHEREAS, pursuant to Resolution No. R-20-0123 adopted on April 23, 2020, the Miami City Commission accepted $6,598,623.00 in special grant funds for Fiscal Year 2019-20, which included an amount of $3,281,526.00 pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Securities ("CARES") Act; and WHEREAS, there is a need to allocate a portion of these funds to support tenants who are struggling and at risk of losing their homes because of the current health crisis ("Program"); and WHEREAS, the goal of the Program is to provide rental and utility assistance to tenants while ensuring that property owners keep tenants in their homes safely and securely; and WHEREAS, a summary of the Program's policies and guidelines is attached and incorporated as Exhibit "A"; and WHEREAS, pursuant to Resolution No. 20-0138 adopted on April 30, 2020, the Miami City Commission approved the allocation of $1,625,220.80 in special grant funds to the Program; and WHEREAS, the City of Miami's ("City") Administration recommends approving the funding for Program, as more particularly specified in Exhibit "A," attached and incorporated, to assist eligible low-income tenants within the City who have lost their jobs due to the outbreak of the Novel Coronavirus and are at risk of losing their homes; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA: Section 1. The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble to this Resolution are adopted by reference and incorporated as if fully set forth in this Section. City of Miami Page 1 of 2 File ID: 7401 (Revision: A) Printed On: 211712022 File ID: 7401 Enactment Number: R-20-0139 Section 2. The Program and funding, as more particularly specified in Exhibit "A," attached and incorporated, is approved. Section 3. The City Manager is authorized' to negotiate and execute any and all necessary documents, all in a form acceptable to the City Attorney, for said purpose, subject to all federal, state, and local laws that regulate the use of such funds. Section 4. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption and signature of the Mayor.2 APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS: ria i : ndez, ity ttar ey 5/5/2020 ' The herein authorization is further subject to compliance with all requirements that may be imposed by the City Attorney, including but not limited to those prescribed by applicable City Charter and Code provisions. 2 If the Mayor does not sign this Resolution, it shall become effective at the end of ten (10) calendar days from the date it was passed and adopted. If the Mayor vetoes this Resolution, it shall become effective immediately upon override of the veto by the City Commission. City of Miami Page 2 of 2 File ID: 7401 (Revision: A) Printed on: 211712022 <ON 0 ', Attachment "A" City of Miami Department of Housing and Community Development o R 1 EMERGENCY RENTAL & UTILITIES ASSISTANCE PROGRAM Program Description The Emergency Rental & Utilities Assistance Program is designed to provide one -month rental and utility assistance to low-income (60% AMI or less) tenants who have lost theirjobs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Before the pandemic, 35.4% of city residents were spending more than 50% of their household income on housing. With income from unemployment (if applied for) and the CARES Act stimulus check of approximately $1,200.00, City of Miami residents will still be experiencing housing insecurity not knowing when they can get back to work. The goal of the program is, therefore, to provide housing and utility assistance to tenants while ensuring that property owners are able to have funds to service their properties. Source of Funding: Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and/or State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program (SHIP) Funding for this Program: $2,000,000.00 Application Period: The City will open the application period one day after City commission approves this program and will be open for 5 days OR until enough applications have been received to deplete the funding available for this program Eligible Costs: Rent and/or utility payments Amount of Assistance: Not to exceed $1,500.00 per household. This is a Grant. Eligibility: ■ must be a City of Miami resided who lost his/her job after March 1", 2020; ■ household income must have been no more than 60% of AMI prior to March 1", 2020; Number of persons in household 1 2 3 4 5 0 Max. Annual Income limits 60/ AMI 38 400 $43,920 $49,380 $54,840 $59,280 cannot be receiving housing subsidies from any other federal, state, and/or local program; rent must be current as of the end of February 2020; Self-employed individuals are not eligible. Required Documentation: ■ State of Florida issued picture ID card with a City of Miami address; ■ proof that the applicant loss his/her job after March 1, 2020; ■ proof of household income; ■ copy of executed lease agreement and proof of payment up to February 2020; ■ current utility bill (water and/or electricity). Telephone bills are excluded. Payments: Payments will be made directly to landlords and/or utility companies. Landlords must be able to provide W-9 and ACH Forms. NOTE: Guidelines, forms, and other documents utilized for this program are subject to change from time to time to ensure proper utilization of public funding.