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Workgroup suggests prioritizing $2 million to preserve case-management positions tied to emergency rental assistance
Summary
Members debated using $2 million in one-time Housing Opportunity Grant funds to replace community-based case-management positions formerly funded by ERAP, versus keeping the money for shelter expansion; the committee recommended listing both needs and clarifying priorities for Appropriations.
Committee members reviewed recommended budget language that would direct $2 million of one-time Housing Opportunity Grant funds to partially replace community-based positions previously funded through the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP).
The language proposed naming the services that the money should backfill—housing navigation, housing retention, landlord outreach and education, legal eviction prevention services, and credit and money-management coaching—rather than using the more general phrase “community-based positions.” Members said specificity would help providers and the public understand the intended use.
Members debated whether the $2 million currently targeted to shelter expansion should instead be used to preserve case-management staff. Supporters of redirecting or clarifying the $2 million said losing roughly 33 service-provision positions would be “catastrophic” during the transition year and would set back efforts to move people into stable housing; they argued staffing is required for individuals to benefit from shelter capacity. Opponents said they did not support removing funds earmarked for shelter expansion and that the committee should present both the shelter-capacity need and the case-management funding need to Appropriations with clear priorities.
The presenter said the governor’s budget includes $2 million in one-time funds for shelter expansion and the committee’s language would specify using those one-time funds to preserve positions rather than add base funding. Staff also reported an additional proposal to fund the balance of positions (approximately $1.7 million) so that the committee’s total ask to fully fund the existing positions would be about $3.75 million if pursued.
Committee members asked staff to consolidate recommended language and produce a version that lists both priorities—shelter expansion and preserving case-management positions—so the Appropriations Committee can see the full set of needs and the workgroup’s prioritization.
No formal committee vote was recorded on the item during the meeting.
