February 15, 2022
Community Development
DATE: February 15, 2022
TO: Mayor Butt and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Lina Velasco, Director of Community Development
LaShonda White, Interim Director of Library and
Community Services
Subject:
Contract with West Contra Costa Public Education Fund
(Edfund West) to Support Richmond Residents Impacted
by Covid through the Richmond Rapid Response Fund
(R3F).
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Funding for the Richmond Rapid Response Fund (R3F) was approved by the City Council as part of the FY 2021- 2022 budget, as recommended for the use of ARPA
funds (13631063-400201-AR238) on June 21, 2021.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
June 21, 2021
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
The Community Development Department is requesting
City Council approval of a contract with West Contra
Costa Public Education Fund (EdFund West) to manage
the distribution of $600,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to support Richmond residents impacted
by the COVID-19 pandemic through the Richmond Rapid
Response Fund (R3F).
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
APPROVE a sole source contract with West Contra
Costa Public Education Fund (EdFund West) to manage
the distribution of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)
funding to support Richmond residents impacted by
COVID through the Richmond Rapid Response Fund
(R3F), in an amount not to exceed $600,000, for a term
from February 15, 2022, to December 31, 2024 –
Community Development Department (Lina Velasco 620-
6706).
AGENDA
REPORT
February 15, 2022
DISCUSSION:
On June 21, 2021, the City Council approved $7.25 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds as part of Fiscal Year (FY) 2021-2022 budget. City Council recommended staff allocate $600,000 to the Richmond Rapid Response Fund (R3F) to manage the disbursement to Richmond residents impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The proposed contract would provide for the direct disbursements contemplated by the budget allocation. The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) provides a substantial infusion of resources to eligible state, local, territorial, and tribal governments to help turn the tide on the pandemic, address its economic fallout, and lay the foundation for a strong and equitable recovery.
The West Contra Costa Public Education (EdFund West) partnered with various other community stakeholders to launch the Richmond Rapid Response Fund (R3F). EdFund West is the fiscal sponsor for R3F. Led by community and City of Richmond government leaders, R3F was created as a community-centered and community-driven fund with the sole purpose of supporting Richmond residents impacted by the COVID- 19 pandemic by developing systems to support the disbursement of cash disbursements for basic needs and rental assistance. R3F is Richmond-focused and was created because there were no existing funds ready to focus on and fundraise for COVID-specific needs and support, including an equitable recovery. Similar to ARPA, the R3F was created for purpose of supporting families and individuals impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and assisting with an equitable recovery.
R3F’s focus is on the following key priority areas including food and essential supplies, economic recovery and security, housing and homelessness, health and healing, education and learning, and social and legal services.
EdFund West will serve as the main point of contact with the City for this scope of work; provide direct disbursement to Richmond residents or organizations with capacity to provide disbursements directly to residents of Richmond that were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic; provide rent and mortgage assistance to residents of Richmond that were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic; provide assistance to residents of Richmond experiencing homelessness to prepare them for more stable housing; if established, implement a pilot targeted income program; provide the City with an accounting of the $600,000 (to include the amount transferred directly to residents as direct disbursements, or to fund a targeted income program initiative, the amount transferred for rental/mortgage assistance, and any fees associated with the oversight and management of these transactions; provide a written report to the City by December 31, 2024, of the financial accounting and a brief write up of the number of residents supported; support the City in ensuring that the ARPA funding stipulations are met by the partnering organizations (i.e. requirement to confirm financial need by
February 15, 2022
residents due to the impact of COVID-19); and support the City with appropriate communication and correspondence of the ARPA funding to R3F.
CONCLUSION:
Based on the City Council’s approval of the FY 2021-2022 budget approved on June 21, 2021, staff is recommending a contract with West Contra Costa Public Education Fund (EdFund West) to manage the distribution of $600,000 in ARPA funding to support Richmond residents impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic through the Richmond Rapid Response Fund (R3F).
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
1 – Standard Contract
2 – Council Approval from June 21, 2021
3 – Sole Source