DEPARTMENT: Social Services-Housing & Community Resources
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
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Update On Affordable Housing Aid Spending Options, And Authorization To Allocate Local Affordable Housing Aid to Emergency Rental Assistance And Amend 2024 Social Services Budget
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RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, in 2021, the Dakota County Board of Commissioners reconvened the Housing Leadership Workgroup to assess the outcomes of the County’s Housing Business Plan and make recommendations for future housing initiatives and investments in Dakota County; and
WHEREAS, the workgroup was made up of faith leaders, law enforcement, people who have experienced homelessness, nonprofit partners, Dakota County Commissioners, and staff from the Dakota County Community Development Agency (CDA) and the County; and
WHEREAS, the workgroup recommended investments in three main areas to support the next phase of the Dakota County Housing Business Plan: shelter, homelessness prevention, and affordable housing; and
WHEREAS, staff presented these recommendations to the County Board on October 19, 2021, and staff returned to the County Board throughout 2022 and 2023 with additional information and further defined recommendations in each of the three investment areas; and
WHEREAS, the 2024 County Budget included initial investments utilizing the new State and Local Affordable Housing Aid, including Emergency Rental Assistance, Apartment Services, Prevention and Navigation Services, Family Voucher Program, and Permanent Supportive Housing and Rapid Re-Housing Services; and
WHEREAS, on March 27, 2024, Community Services and the CDA proposed an expanded set of Affordable Housing Aid investments during a Board Workshop and the County Board requested that additional eligible activities that can be launched quickly be brought back for formal consideration; and
WHEREAS, on April 16, 2024, Community Services proposed expansion of the Emergency Rental Assistance program by adding $1,500,000 to the 2024 Social Services Budget; and
WHEREAS, by Resolution No. 24-215 (April 23, 2024), the Dakota County Board of Commissioners authorized $428,000 of Affordable Housing Aid funds be allocated toward emergency rental assistance and requested that staff return after the legislative session ends to provide an update on Affordable Housing Aid uses and propose eligible activities that can be launched quickly; and
WHEREAS, on July 23, 2024, Community Services presented updates to Affordable Housing Aid statute language and a plan for the 2025 budget as co-developed by Dakota County Community Services and the Dakota County CDA; and
WHEREAS, this plan is based on the Housing Business Plan recommendations and priorities and is built in the 2025 county budget proposal; and
WHEREAS, by Resolution No. 24-379 (July 30, 2024), staff also received authorization to accept the State and Local Affordable Housing Aid funds in 2024 and a portion of these funds were built into the 2024 Social Services Budget and are currently being spent; and
WHEREAS, there continues to be an immediate need for Emergency Rental Assistance funding to support the Housing Clinic at Eviction Court and Social Services’ Prevention Services and Navigation Team for prevention assistance prior to an eviction filing and Social Services is requesting an additional $355,000 in funding for 2024; and
WHEREAS, it is a Board Priority for Community Services and the Dakota County CDA to develop a 5-year plan for allocating Affordable Housing Aid in alignment with Dakota County’s Housing Business Plan and this presentation will continue the Affordable Housing Aid discussion; and
WHEREAS, policy direction provided by the Board in this meeting will serve as the basis for 2025 budget development.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the Community Services Director to allocate up to $355,000 one-time additional Affordable Housing Aid funds towards emergency rental assistance; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the 2024 Social Services Budget is hereby amended as follows:
Expense
Emergency Rental Assistance $355,000
Total Expense $355,000
Revenue
Affordable Housing Aid $355,000
Total Revenue $355,000
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