$1.7M removed from county rental assistance program

Hays County lost an additional $1.7 million in funding for its Emergency Rental Assistance Program after the U.S. Treasury recaptured the money due to the county not meeting a milestone for distribution.

According to a news release, “Prior to that date, county officials sent a request that the Treasury either not recapture the funds or, if they must be recaptured, to re-allocate them back to the county based on our current and projected level of efficiency. In that letter, Hays County outlined how during the first six months of the program, under a program manager who resigned in early January, the county distributed about $757,000 and helped 384 applicants (commonly referred to with the ERA office as tickets).”

During the Hays County Commissioners Court, there will be an update by the Director of Countywide Operations and Hays County staff on the ERA program.

This is the second time the Treasury has taken funds back. In September, $772,79 in ERA funding was recaptured as well due to the same issue in allocating the funds.

The commissioners will also discuss and possibly take action in awarding a contract for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, program manager to Ardurra Group, Inc., who was previously recommended by the evaluation committee.

Hays County said its ERA program has processed 155 ERA tickets for assistance and paid out $430,000 since its program manager departed. The county added that another $113,000 is committed to hotels for housing stability.

“We are on track to distribute the ERA1 funding in a more efficient manner,” Hays County Commissioner Walt Smith, Pct. 3 said. “With a more streamlined process in place, we believe more Hays County residents can be helped in a shorter amount of time.”

Hays County stated that its auditor’s office confirmed that the U.S. Treasury Office received a letter from the county regarding the ERA program and created an open ticket. But the county is unsure when the treasury will announce a decision.

“Hays County is hopeful that the U.S. Treasury will take our request under serious consideration,” Hays County Commissioner Mark Jones said.

Added Commissioner Debbie Ingalsbe: “If they see the efficiencies and see how we are working to complete more tickets, we believe Treasury will agree that losing the funding would mean we would lose the ability to help that many more residents in jeopardy of being evicted or having necessary utility services shut off.”