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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
PROPOSED RESOLUTION FOR THE COOK COUNTY RECONNECT: RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND SERVICES FOR RETURNING RESIDENTS PROGRAM IMPLEMENTED BY THE JUSTICE ADVISORY COUNCIL
WHEREAS, on March 11, 2021, the federal government authorized the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (“ARPA”) which includes $1.9 trillion in federal stimulus funds to hasten the United States’ recovery from the economic and health effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic; and
WHEREAS, specifically, the federal government has authorized and allocated a federal award of approximately $1,000,372,385B of ARPA funding to Cook County to assist the County in its recovery from the economic and health effects of COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, on June 24, 2021, the Cook County American Rescue Plan Act Framework (the “ARPA Framework”) was presented to the Cook County Board of Commissioners; and
WHEREAS, the Cook County Board of Commissioners via Resolution 21-3654 accepted the ARPA federal award allocated to Cook County to assist the County in its recovery from the economic and health effects of COVID-19 in the amount of approximately $1,000,372,385.00; and
WHEREAS, Resolution 21-3654 further authorized the Cook County Budget Director and Comptroller to create and implement a Special Purpose Fund for the ARPA award and other accounting measures to track the acceptance and spending of the federal award; and
WHEREAS, the Cook County Board of Commissioners authorized the Chief Financial Officer, Budget Director, Chief Procurement Officer and applicable using agencies to issue grants, contracts and agreements for ARPA programs approved via Resolutions 22-3657 and 22-0637; and
WHEREAS, to further the Policy Roadmap Goal, the Justice Advisory Council has developed a menu of Safe and Thriving Community programs and initiatives which have undergone review and approval through the Project Management Office process to utilize ARPA funding for such programs and initiatives pursuant to the issuance of grants, contracts, and agreements; and
WHEREAS, Resolutions 22-3657 and 22-0637 provided that any grants issued regarding ARPA programs in an amount over $1M shall require the approval of the Cook County Board of Commissioners; and
WHEREAS, The JAC was named lead for the ARPA Initiative NT764: Reentry Housing Resources, an initiative geared toward providing housing assistance as well as supportive services for returning residents in Cook County; and
WHEREAS, Acknowledging that key supports during the reentry period of a person’s life-when they have recently been released from incarceration-particularly with respect to housing, are critical to their successful reintegration with the community, the JAC, working with the Housing Authority of Cook County developed two-pronged initiative outline, including both rental assistance as well as wraparound services entitled the Rental Assistance and Services for Returning Residents program; and
WHEREAS, The program would target individuals released from IDOC up to 24 months to their enrollment in the program with referrals from both the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) as well as community providers, and aide them in the obtaining and maintaining of lease agreements; and
WHEREAS, The proposed subrecipients, Connections for the Homeless, Respond Now, BEDS Plus, and Housing Forward would provide rental unit search assistance and rental and utility support, and the JAC would coordinate and provision for wraparound services and oversee the referral process; and
WHEREAS, the proposed subrecipients, would receive $5,612,919.81 of the total $21,800,00.00 to provide the rental and utility assistance as well as the necessary staffing for servicing those agreements and providing relocation coordination along with the previously approved Housing Authority of Cook County, and with the remaining to be used by the JAC to put in place the supportive services.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners hereby acknowledges the issuance of the following agreement under $1 million by the Justice Advisory Council to utilize ARPA funding to implement the rental and utilities assistance portion of the Rental Assistance and Services for Returning Residents program (i.e., NT764: Reentry Housing Resources) as follows:
1. Enter into a Subrecipient Agreement with Connections for the Homeless in an aggregate amount of up to $975,814.51
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners hereby approves the issuance of the following agreements by the Justice Advisory Council to utilize ARPA funding to implement the rental and utilities assistance portion of the Rental Assistance and Services for Returning Residents program (i.e., NT764: Reentry Housing Resources) for multiyear terms through November 30, 2026, subject to appropriation by the Board in accordance with state and county fiscal years, for the Justice Advisory Council programs and initiatives as follows:
1. Enter into a Subrecipient Agreement with Respond Now in an aggregate amount of up to $1,133,150.62
2. Enter into a Subrecipient Agreement with BEDS Plus in an aggregate amount of up to $2,008,111.25
3. Enter into a Subrecipient Agreement with Housing Forward in an aggregate amount of up to $1,495,843.43
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