Volusia County Staff Recommending Approval Of Emergency Rental Assistance Terms

DeLand, FL – The Volusia County Council (VCC) will discuss a second emergency rental assistance allocation of approximately $13.2 million approved through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, during the regularly scheduled meeting tomorrow. County staff is pushing to keep extra money available to those with extensive arrears or pending eviction. Right now, the program provides up to six months of assistance per household.  A review of the program has been completed and the recommendations are as follows:  For those with more than three months of rental/utility arrears: Provide a maximum of nine months rental and utility assistance in arrears and up to three months in forward payments for a maximum of 12 months of total assistance. For households in need of additional eviction assistance (have an eviction notice): Provide amaximum of 12 months of assistance (as stated above) plus a maximum of $7,000 from thefollowing services: Rent or rental bonds (paid to court to avoid an eviction order) Hotel Costs – not to exceed $1,500 per month for a maximum of three months. Application or screening fees – not to exceed $600 total Rental security deposits – not to exceed two months of rental assistance Landlord Incentive – not to exceed one month of rental assistance Also on the agenda pertaining to housing, county staff is recommending approval to appropriate $2,566,976 in FY 2021/22 State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) allocation funds and $820,000 in anticipated program and investment income. "The SHIP program provides funds from the collection of documentary stamp taxes to local governments for the development and preservation of affordable housing for households with incomes that do not exceed 120 percent of the area median income. The funding year runs from July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2022. A SHIP allocation was not received last year. The regular meeting begins at 9:30 a.m.  The final budget meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. The proposed budget for fiscal year 2021-22 totals more than $1.000.000.000. The operating budget is $960,999,531. The non-operating budget totals $185,307,854.