MEMO TO: Members of the City Council
FROM: Mayor Angela Birney
SUBJECT:
title
Community Development Block Grant-Coronavirus (CDBG-CV) Funding
I. RECOMMENDED ACTION
recommendation
Approve Human Services Commission recommended allocation of CDBG-CV funds to support Eastside emergency shelter response to COVID-19 pandemic.
body
II. DEPARTMENT CONTACTS
Carol Helland, Director 425-556-2107
Beverly Mesa-Zendt, Interim Deputy Director 425-556-2423
Alaric Bien, Senior Planner 425-556-2458
Planning and Community Development
III. DESCRIPTION/BACKGROUND
On March 27, 2020, the US Congress approved additional funding in the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program totaling $5 billion for the program year 2020. Of the total, $2 billion is a direct allocation to state and local governments through the regular program formula (all grantees that received a CDBG allocation in the Fiscal Year 2020 will receive this funding). Redmond's allocation is $219,315 in additional 2020 funds, referred to as CDBG-COVID (CV) funds.
Typically, not more than 15 percent of CDBG funds can be dedicated to human services. The Interlocal Agreement with King County stipulates that the County will withhold 10 percent of Redmond's total allocation for administration as well as 5 percent for the county-wide human service Housing Stability Program. This results in the City being limited to 10 percent of the total regular CDBG allocation for human services.
A key provision in the Congressional approval of CDBG-CV funding suspends the 15 percent cap on human services. All CDBG-CV funds may be used for human services as long as they are related to preparation, prevention, and/or response to COVID-19.
The County has decided that it will withhold 3 percent of Redmond's allocation for its administrative costs related to CDBG-CV. The amount available to Redmond to allocate to human services is $214, 928.
The Human Services Commission met on May 11 to discuss the use of CDBG-...
Click here for full text