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Linn County says Emergency Rental Assistance fund exhausted; staff track impacts on general assistance and services
Summary
Director Dave Thielen told the Board that the county has stopped taking new ERAP applications after exhausting the federal rental assistance pot; staff expect increased demand on the countygeneral assistance budget and are monitoring detention staffing and security needs.
Dave Thielen, director of community services for Linn County, told the Board of Supervisors on Feb. 25 that the county has stopped accepting new applications to the Emergency Rental Assistance program because "that money has run out." He said staff expect some residents with unmet rental needs to seek help from the county's general assistance office once ERAP funds are fully processed.
Thielen said the county's general assistance budget is currently underspent but warned the end of ERAP funding could create demand that exceeds that budget. "You know, over the last 5 years, we've had over $10,000,000 that has been helpful for individuals to pay for their rental assistance, utility assistance," Thielen said, and noted the county's general assistance line is not set up to absorb that full demand indefinitely.
Why it matters: Local rental-support programs have been supplemented by federal COVID-era funds in recent years. With that temporary funding winding down, county budgets and service offices face the prospect of increased caseloads and possible reallocation of funds.
Thielen also updated supervisors on related community services issues. He said detention staffing turnover has left that budget likely to be underspent and that staff are discussing moving funds from payroll to operations to pay for security upgrades such as courtyard cameras and lock work if the underspend is sufficient. "If we are underspent, we will look at going ahead, or taking some of those proposals before you guys for approval moving from payroll to operations," he said.
The county signed a contract for the Ryan White program with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that will begin April 1, Thielen said. He reported continued monitoring of the statewide behavioral health redesign and the role of the administrative services organization (ASO) in contracting for the Access Center.
Thielen said work continues on early childhood programs and childcare, including redesign efforts tied to state initiatives and a March 17 planning meeting with the county attorney and other staff. He also reported that Options, an in-county provider, applied for a $5,000 technology grant and up to $10,000 in training funds and is preparing for its triennial CARF accreditation.
Thielen said he will travel to Washington, D.C., later in the week to gather information on federal budget items that could affect local programs including Medicaid and food assistance.
Ending: Thielen said staff will bring follow-up items to the Board as projections firm up and as contracting details for behavioral health and detention needs become clearer.
