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Council adds roughly $1.4M to emergency rental assistance and staff to speed payouts
Summary
The council approved amendments adding roughly $926,000 and matching local funds to expand emergency rental assistance capacity, increasing staffing and aiming for an April 1 launch to address rising eviction pressures, sponsors said.
The council moved to increase emergency rental assistance capacity by approving an amendment that adds approximately $926,000 and matches an earlier $500,000 local affordable housing aid transfer, bringing the new total for emergency rental assistance to about $1.4 million for 2026. Councilmember Johnson, sponsor of the amendment, said the program received 610 applications in 23 days during a previous opening and needs additional staff to process applications and get funds into households quickly.
The amendment funds two additional staff positions to expand intake and processing capacity and aims for a planned program launch on or about April 1. Councilmembers praised the action as responsive to eviction risk and the wage impacts the city is seeing in the wake of recent federal immigration enforcement activity.
The resolution passed unanimously; HRA and housing staff will implement the staffing and intake changes and coordinate with the mayor's office and HRA board to disburse funds.
