DEPARTMENT: Social Services
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
TITLE
title
Authorization To Execute Contracts With Hearth Connection For Rental Assistance Administration
end
RESOLUTION
body
WHEREAS, Dakota County issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for rental assistance administration services on July 2, 2018, to secure a vendor to provide rental assistance administration program services on behalf of Dakota County Social Services, Housing Section, and Hearth Connection was selected as the provider for this service; and
WHEREAS, by Resolution No. 18-425 (August 21, 2018), the Board authorized the Community Services Director to contract with Hearth Connection for rental assistance administration and by Resolution Nos. 19-850 (November 26, 2019), 20-238 (May 12, 2020), and 21-258 (May 18, 2021), the Dakota County Board of Commissioners authorized the Community Services Director to execute renewal contracts with Hearth Connection to provide rental assistance; and
WHEREAS, rental assistance resources included in the RFP are U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Continuum of Care Rapid Re-Housing (CoC RRH) and HUD Emergency Solutions Grant Rapid Re-Housing (ESG RRH); and
WHEREAS, Dakota County is the grant recipient for the CoC RRH program and the administrator on behalf of the CDA for the ESG RRH program and these relationships will remain in place with the contract for a Rental Assistance Administrator; and
WHEREAS, the HUD CoC RRH funds are secured annually through a competitive grant process and the grant year runs from June 1 through May 31 of each year and is anticipated to renew, serving 48 family households at a time with total rental assistance, application fee, security deposit and administration funds currently available of $643,770 for the grant year, all of which must be spent within the grant period; and
WHEREAS, the HUD ESG RRH funds are secured annually through a formula allocation and the grant year runs from July 1 through June 30 of each year and is anticipated to renew, serving 10 households (singles and families) at a time with total rental assistance, application fee, security deposit and administrative funds available of $133,947 for the grant year, all of which must be spent within 18 months of the beginning of the grant period; and
WHEREAS, rental assistance administration includes: management of RRH rental assistance budgets and rent payments to landlords, management of program participant file and documentation requirements per program regulations, connection of participants to required case management services, and provision of all data entry.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the Community Services Director to execute a contract with Hearth Connection for U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Continuum of Care rental assistance administration services in a not to exceed amount of $643,770 for the period of June 1, 2022 through May 31, 2023, subject to approval by the County Attorney’s Office as to form; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the Community Services Director to execute a contract with Hearth Connection for HUD Emergency Solutions Grant rental assistance administration services in a not to exceed amount of $133,947 for the period of July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023, subject to approval by the County Attorney’s Office as to form; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Community Services Director is hereby authorized to amend said contracts, within the amount budgeted, to alter the number and types of clients served, types of services provided, service expectations and rates, and the contract term, consistent with County contracting policies, subject to approval by the County Attorney’s Office as to form; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the contracts shall contain a provision that allows the County to immediately terminate the contracts in the event sufficient funds from county, state, or federal sources are not appropriated at a level sufficient to allow payment of the amounts due.
end