TITLE: Title
Quarterly Report (2021 Q4) and 2021 Annual Report for the Town of Carrboro’s CDBG-CV Grant No. 20-V-3525
PURPOSE: The purpose of this item is to receive the fourth quarter report, and an annual report for calendar year 2021, for the Town of Carrboro’s Community Development Block Grant - Coronavirus (CDBG-CV) from the NC Department of Commerce.
body
DEPARTMENT: Housing and Community Services
CONTACT INFORMATION: Rebecca Buzzard, Housing and Community Services Director, rbuzzard@townofcarrboro.org <mailto:rbuzzard@townofcarrboro.org>, 919-918-7438
INFORMATION: On August 25, 2020, Governor Cooper announced funding for three initiatives to help North Carolinians with rental and utility payments in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. One of these initiatives provided the availability of $27.5 million from a federal Community Development Block Grant - Coronavirus (CDBG-CV) to be administered by incorporated municipalities with under 50,000 residents and counties with under 200,000 residents, through the North Carolina Department of Commerce. Local governments were encouraged to prioritize the support of rental and utility payments and eviction prevention.
The Town of Carrboro applied for, and was awarded, $900,000 in CDBG-CV funds to be used with the Orange County’s existing Emergency Housing Assistance (EHA) program, which provides financial assistance to help Orange County residents with low incomes secure and maintain stable housing. All CDBG-CV funds must be obligated by March 17, 2023.
As part of the CDBG-CV grant compliance requirements, the Town of Carrboro must provide quarterly written status reports to the Town Council on the use of the CDBG-CV funds. Each quarterly report must be signed by the Mayor and submitted to the NC Department of Commerce. This report (Attachment A) covers the fourth quarter of the calendar year, from October 2021 to December 2021.
The Town of Carrboro must also submit an Annual Performance Report that covers CDBG-CV activities for the calendar year 2021 (Attachment B).
As the CDBG-CV money is expended, and as a result the HOPE program application period closing on December 17, 2021, Orange County Housing and Community Development representatives are meeting regularly with staff from Carrboro, Chapel Hill, and Hillsborough to determine if and when program changes should occur. The County has allocated American Rescue Plan funding to the Emergency Housing Assistance Program and Carrboro residents will continue to receive rent, utility, and mortgage assistance after the CDBG-CV grant ends.
FISCAL & STAFF IMPACT: None noted in relation to the receipt of this report. Review and submission of quarterly reports is required to maintain compliance with the terms of the Town of Carrboro’s $900,000 CDBG-CV grant. After the first four quarters of Calendar Year 2021, $338,604.35 remains in the grant fund and, at the current rate, it is expected that all funds will be spent by March 2022. Carrboro and Orange County staff are discussing longer term plans for EHA funding, but in the short term, Carrboro residents will continue to be supported through County allocations after the CDBG-CV grant is expended.
RECOMMENDATION:r Staff recommends that the Town Council review Attachments A and B (4th Quarter and Annual Performance Reports) and authorize the Mayor to sign the reports for submission to the NC Department of Commerce.