At its June 12, 2020 meeting, the Finance and Economic Resiliency Committee (FERC) discussed the demand for rent assistance services in the community and acknowledged that the need was greater than what could be met with the funds allocated in Tranches 1 and 2 through Community Development Block Grant (CDBG-CV) and HOME Investment Partnership (HOME) funds. As such, the Committee recommended that up to $700,000 in General Reserve Funds be set aside for potential use to address the pressing need for rent assistance. However, the Committee requested that only $330,000 of these funds be released at this time – a number equivalent to the value allocated in the two prior tranches of rent assistance. Furthermore, the Committee emphasized the desire that, if possible, these funds be reimbursed through other sources such as CARES funds from Miami-Dade County.

At its July 29, 2020 Commission meeting, the Administration recommended awarding these funds to a non-profit to ensure assistance is available to the broadest range of Miami Beach residents, including those who have not achieved permanent residency status. On September 18, 2020 a contract was executed with HOPE in Miami-Dade, Inc. (HOPE) to provide rent and utility services to Miami Beach households referred by the Office of Housing and Community Services (HCS).

Upon execution of its contract, HOPE received 168 referrals from the City for households deemed ineligible for funds in Tranches 1 and 2. As of October 9, 2020, HOPE has contacted more than 180 referrals, screened 58 applications, and assisted three households.

Referrals are issued to HOPE as HCS identifies clients from previous tranches that were deemed ineligible due to immigration status or the exhaustion of available funds. Most households considered initially ineligible due to immigration status either have a work permit or have yet to achieve status acceptable to receive federal funds. As the goal is to pursue reimbursement for these funds once the pandemic is over, federal eligibility requires that households earn no more than 60 or 80 percent Area Median Income ($45,780 and $73,100 for a family of four respectively) and demonstrate adverse impact by COVID-19.

As it has been less than 30 days since the contract was executed with HOPE, the Administration recommends waiting another 30 days prior to assessing the need for any additional rent and utility assistance. Please note that the Mayor and Commission will be hearing a item later this month accepting the funds awarded to the City under CDBG-CV 3 which includes the possibility of additional rent assistance funds and expand the expediture deadline for up to 6 years.

The Administration recommends allowing an additional  30 days to evaluate the distribution of Tranche 3 funds by HOPE in Miami-Dade, Inc. as well as the City’s distribtuions in tranches 2 and 4.