TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THRU: Tom Kisela, City Manager
FROM: Russell Bunim, Community Development Director
1. SUBJECT
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Consideration of a Tenant Based Rental Assistance Program for security and utilities deposit rental assistance to be funded out of the HOME Investment Partnerships Program.
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2. SUMMARY
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires the City to prepare a five-year strategic plan, the Consolidated Plan, for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) funds that includes an Action Plan for use of the funds. The proposed Tenant Based Rental Assistance Program is identified in the City's 2023-2024 Action Plan. The CDBG Committee has recommended allocation of a portion of the City's HOME funding to establish a program that assists qualifying households with security and utility deposit rental assistance.
3. RECOMMENDED ACTION
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Direct staff to establish a program that includes:
1. Security deposit assistance to qualifying households.
2. Utility deposit assistance to qualifying households.
3. Participant referral from a supportive services organization serving residents of the City of Orange as part of the qualification criteria for applying for the Tenant Based Rental Assistance Program.
4. A preference criterion (in order of preference):
a. Current City of Orange resident with intention to continue to reside in the City of Orange;
b. Families with children under 12;
c. Veterans with honorable discharge; and
d. Elderly as defined by the Social Security Administration for full retirement qualification
5. Security and utility deposits be paid directly to the landlord or property manager and any remaining funds at the end of residency be returned to the City as Program Income.
6. The security and utility deposit assistance be defined as a grant, with any remaining funds at the end of tenancy returned by the landlord directly to...
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