DEPARTMENT:
Neighborhood & Housing Services Department
DEPARTMENT HEAD:
Verónica R. Soto, FAICP, Neighborhood & Housing Services Department Director
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED:
Citywide
SUMMARY:
Briefing and discussion on Emergency Housing Assistance Program eligibility.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
In response to COVID 19, City Council approved an ordinance on April 23, 2020 that created the COVID-19 Emergency Housing Assistance Program (EHAP). The EHAP Budget is $76.6 million. As of September 30, 2020, the EHAP has assisted 17,140 households and provided $48.8 million in assistance.
The chart below provides the breakout by City Council District.
|
Emergency Housing Assistance Program |
|
CD |
Avg AMI % |
Approved |
Avg HH Size |
Approved $ |
|
1 |
27.7 |
1,710 |
3 |
$4,726,377 |
|
2 |
28.2 |
2,220 |
3 |
$6,199,049 |
|
3 |
29.4 |
1,904 |
3 |
$5,264,495 |
|
4 |
29.2 |
1,535 |
3 |
$4,494,390 |
|
5 |
24.5 |
1,313 |
3 |
$3,389,365 |
|
6 |
31.7 |
1,762 |
3 |
$5,132,930 |
|
7 |
28.7 |
1,853 |
3 |
$5,247,379 |
|
8 |
31.9 |
1,996 |
2 |
$5,790,016 |
|
9 |
31.7 |
1,341 |
2 |
$4,031,399 |
|
10 |
32.2 |
1,506 |
3 |
$4,557,054 |
|
Totals |
|
17,140 |
|
$48,832,454 |
ISSUE:
As staff enters Phase 3 of the EHAP, the priority remains on the most vulnerable in our community. Effective October 1, 2020 the following eligibility criteria is utilized for EHAP Phase 3 applicants:
– Reside within the San Antonio city limits
– Provide documentation of hardship due to COVID-19
– Assistance is available for both rental and mortgage
– Must make less than 80% of the AMI
– Assistance is tiered based on the applicants AMI:
– If an applicant’s AMI is at or below 50% AMI, the applicant is eligible for 2 months of rental or mortgage assistance, utility (SAWS, CPS, Internet) assistance, and a cash grant (up to $300). If a third month of assistance is needed, the applicant is eligible for a $500 cash grant only.
– If an applicant’s AMI is between 51% and 80%, the applicant is eligible for 2 months rental or mortgage assistance. If a third month of assistance is needed, the applicant is eligible for a $250 cash grant only.
|
Emergency Housing Assistance Program |
|
AMI |
Months 1 and 2 |
Month 3 |
|
|
Rent/Mortgage |
SAWS |
CPS |
Internet |
Cash Grant |
Cash Grant |
|
<50% |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Up to $300 |
$500 |
|
51% - 80% |
X |
|
|
|
|
$250 |
Residents who received assistance in Phase 1 or Phase 2 will be eligible for 1 month of cash assistance in alignment with the month 3 amounts in above table.
For those cases that proceed to the eviction courts as part of our right to counsel program, defendants will be eligible for up to $5,000 in rental assistance to help address arrears.
ALTERNATIVES:
This item is for briefing purposes only.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This item is for briefing purposes only.
RECOMMENDATION:
This item is for briefing purposes only.