Department
Community Development
Requested Action (Identify appropriate Action or Motion, purpose, cost, timeframe, etc.)
title
Request approval to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") between Fulton County, as the GA 502 Fulton County Continuum of Care ("CoC") Collaborative Applicant, and the Housing Authority of Fulton County, Georgia (the “Authority”) regarding the implementation of twenty eight (28) Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHVs) and additional EHVs as they become available. The Initial term of the MOU is effective August 1, 2021 to July 31, 2022, unless extended. The County Attorney is authorized to make modifications to the MOU and related document as to form prior to by the Chairman. (APPROVED UPON ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT AGENDA)
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Requirement for Board Action (Cite specific Board policy, statute or code requirement)
Official Code of Georgia 36-10-1 states that all contracts entered into by the County governing authority with other persons shall be in writing and entered in its minutes.
Strategic Priority Area related to this item (If yes, note strategic priority area below)
Health and Human Services
Commission Districts Affected
All Districts ☒
District 1 ☐
District 2 ☐
District 3 ☐
District 4 ☐
District 5 ☐
District 6 ☐
Is this a purchasing item?
No
Summary & Background
The EHVs are special purpose vouchers which will expire on September 30, 2023, or when HUD funding is removed or reduced for the vouchers. The vouchers are tenant-based vouchers that may not be project-based. The Authority accepted 28 EHVs on May 10, 2021 and may accept additional EHVs as they become available. The Authority’s EHV program must be administered in collaboration with the CoC. The CoC board voted to approve the EHV collaboration at the June 17, 2021, CoC Board meeting.
The American Rescue Plan (ARP) of 2021, Section 3202, appropriated $5 billion for new incremental Housing Choice Vouchers (HCVs) to be administered by public housing agencies (PHAs).
On May 5, 2021 the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued PIH Notice 2021-15 Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHVs) Operating Requirements and as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) and in accordance with HUD regulations, an Authority administering an Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) program must operate the program in accordance with the requirements of 24 CFR Part 982 as well as any waivers or alterative requirements that specifically apply to EHV’s.
The MOU will accomplish the following:
Scope of Work: Click or tap here to enter text.
A. Referrals for EHVs must come through the CoC’s Coordinated Entry (CE) System or from a Victims Services Provider.
B. The CoC is responsible for determining whether the family qualifies under one of the four eligibility categories for EHVs.
• Must be experiencing homelessness with income less than 30% AMI.
• Are at risk of experiencing homelessness with income less than 30% AMI.
• Fleeing, or attempting to flee domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking with income less than 30% AMI.
• Were recently homeless and for whom providing rental assistance will prevent the family’s homelessness or having high risk of housing instability with income less than 30% AMI.
C. The Authority will accept referrals for EHVs directly from the Fulton CoC’s Coordinated Entry System or from a Victim Service Provider (VSP).
• EHVs may additionally be utilized to facilitate an emergency transfer in accordance with the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) as outlined in the PHA’s Emergency Transfer Plan.
D. Housing search assistance will be provided by the Fulton CoC and the Authority.
Community Impact: Increase availability of Housing Vouchers for Fulton County’s most vulnerable residents.
Department Recommendation: The approval of the MOU.
Project Implications: None
Community Issues/Concerns: None
Department Issues/Concerns: None