Title
Ordinance in the Amount of $32,000 Amending State, Federal and Other Grants Fund Budget for the Appropriation of FY 2014 Fair Housing Training Program Grant Funds
Body
Department: Human Relations
Council District: City-wide
Public Hearing: N/A
Advertising Date/By: January 6, 2015
Contact 1 and Phone: Marion Davis, 373-2038
Contact 2 and Phone: Love Crossling, 373-2038
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this ordinance is to appropriate grant funds from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in the amount of $32,000 to fund salary, benefits and training costs for the Fair Housing Assistance Program. A budget ordinance needs to be approved by the City Council to permit the expenditure of funds.
BACKGROUND:
The City has a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between HUD and the Human Relations Department designating the department as a Fair Housing Assistance Program. Human Relations receives federal monies for cases that are required to be investigated under the City’s Fair Housing Ordinance. The Human Relations Department is awarded payment in the amount of $32,000 for the investigation and processing of eight fair housing cases pursued during fiscal year 13-14. The award amount is applied towards salary and benefits expenses for the Fair Housing Specialist and staff professional development training.
The department receives a recurring grant annually from HUD based on the number of fair housing cases investigated the previous fiscal year. An agreement with the City of Greensboro and federal government, related to its receipt of fair housing federal grant funds requires the City to affirmatively further fair housing. The City’s Fair Housing Ordinance and its Fair Housing Assistance Program are two of the ways that Greensboro meets this commitment. A portion of the money ($16,250) is to be used for staff professional development.
BUDGET IMPACT:
This grant, in the amount of $32,000 represents federal funding for fair housing services provided by the City and does not require any additional City funding. The grant will be appropriated to the Fair Housing Training Program Grant Fund.
RECOMMENDATION / ACTION REQUESTED:
It is requested and recommended that the City Council adopt the attached budget ordinance amending the Fair Housing Assistance Program grant funding (FHAP grant number FF204K144013) in the amount of $32,000 in support of the City’s Fair Housing Assistance Program.
COMMITTEE ACTION: This item was referred to Council by the General Government Committee.