For City Council Meeting [September 13, 2022]
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
APPROVAL: Marcus Fuller, City Manager
FROM: Arron Brown, Deputy City Manager
Cynthia Alvarado, Parks, Recreation & Community Services Director
Lisette Montoya, Avant-Garde Inc.
Title
Request that the City Council Approve Reprogramming Funding for the Rialto Cares Programs.
(ACTION)
Body
BACKGROUND:
Rialto Assistance Program: On December 14, 2021, the Rialto City Council appropriated $2,600,000 to be made available for residents who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The City allocated the funding as follows:
1. Rental/Mortgage/Utility Assistance Program - $1,500,000 ($5,300 per applicant);
2. Small Business Assistance Program - $600,000 ($10,000 per applicant);
3. Burial Reimbursement $200,000 ($5,000 per applicant); and
4. Childcare Reimbursement - $150,000 for ($1,500 per applicant).
5. Ambulance Support Services - $150,000 (varies per applicant)
The City commissioned Avant-Garde to assist with the development of program guidelines, applications, outreach materials, and the overall implementation of the programs. Avant-Garde began accepting applications on January 14, 2022.
Table 1 below provides the funds expended to date.
Table 2 below provides a summary of the applications:
*Rental, Mortgage, & Utility applications were closed due to applicants already receiving assistance from another program (e.g., Housing is Key) or due to applicants residing outside a qualified census tract and unable to provide proper documentation of low-income status or COVID-19 impact.
**Small Business applications outside the qualified census tract were closed for not providing adequate documentation of COVID-19 economic impact.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION:
There is a current waiting list for residents seeking assistance for rental/mortgage/utility assistance and there continues to be a great need for this assistance. For Rental, Mortgage & Utilities there are 14 app...
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