Submitted by: Patrick Paschall
Submitting Department: Finance
Agenda Section: Discussion
Item Title:
title
Individual Emergency Relief Programs - ARPA
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Suggested Action:
recommendation
I move that the Mayor and Council allocate $1,200,000 for emergency relief programs for individuals who have experienced pandemic-related negative economic consequences, with amounts designated for the following purposes:
• $900,000 for individual relief payments, which consist of $2,500 per adult individual and $750 per child upon showing that the individual is a resident of the City of Hyattsville and experienced pandemic-related negative economic consequences eligible for relief under the American Rescue Plan Act.
• $100,000 for a medical bill relief program, providing up to $5,000 per City resident for medical bills incurred after March 3, 2021.
• An amount NTE $100,000 for program administration through a local-serving non-profit organization selected through a public Request for Proposals outlining the criteria needed for implementation.
• An amount NTE $100,000 for outreach and application assistance programs to ensure relief programs are accessible for all communities within the City.
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Summary Background:
The City of Hyattsville has been awarded $17.9 million under the American Rescue Plan Act, which is intended to be used for reinvestment back into our community focusing both on immediate pandemic-related needs of our community and addressing structural barriers that were exacerbated during the pandemic.
The City has conducted an extensive outreach process to hear from the community about pandemic-related emergency relief needs, in an effort to tailor relief programs to the needs of our community. Through our public engagement process, we heard from over 400 unique individuals provide feedback via community listening sessions, an online feedback form, paper requests for feedback mailed to each home, and other outreach methods.
The pandemic has impacted segments within our community significantly, with an array of pandemic related harms reported, ranging from economic impact of job loss and trouble paying regular household bills, to difficulty accessing food assistance, childcare needs, mental health care, and dozens of other identified needs.
Accordingly, the City Council has prioritized establishing relief programs that provide financial assistance to households in need. Under this program, City staff will work with non-profit organizations to establish an application process, ensure compliance with federal rules regarding eligibility and documentation, conduct outreach to residents, and provide assistance with completing and submitting applications for assistance.
Upon Council approval and award of a contract, the City will transfer funds under this program to the eligible non-profits.
Adult residents of the City will be eligible for a one-time $2,500 relief payment, plus an additional $750 per child, to assist with pandemic related harms. Residents must show they are a resident of the City and that they have experienced pandemic-related harm eligible for relief under the American Rescue Plan Act.
This program will also establish a medical bill relief fund. This will operate as a separate application in addition to the individual relief program and will offer relief payments of up to $5,000 per individual for medical bills incurred after March 3, 2021 - a date restriction specified within the American Rescue Plan.
Emergency relief assistance programs will be available to all eligible City residents, regardless of citizenship or immigration status.
Next Steps:
Staff will publish two Requests for Proposals. One will be to establish administrative aspects of the program, such as a database for management of the program, ability to ensure applicants meet all necessary criteria before being awarded a relief payment, tracking documentation needed for audits, and providing regular reports back to the City. The other RFP will be to engage communities within Hyattsville to conduct outreach and application assistance to residents within Hyattsville, such as low-income populations, Spanish speakers, and seniors.
Both RFPs will be presented to Council for final contract award. Additional eligibility criteria will also be presented to Council for approval.
Fiscal Impact:
$1,200,000 paid for using American Rescue Plan Act funds.
City Administrator Comments:
Recommends approval
Community Engagement:
An extensive community engagement process has been undertaken to gather information about community needs. This program will include even more direct engagement with residents as program staff works to assist individuals with application submissions.
Strategic Goals:
Goal 2 - Ensure the Long-Term Economic Viability of the City
Legal Review Required?
N/A