HomeMy Public PortalAboutERA Report 12.9.20 with Staff Options 12-13-201
To: Larry Field
From: Jennifer Van Campen
Date: December 9, 2020
To date, the Watertown Emergency Rental Assistance Program has the following:
71 submissions
18 – incomplete or still in process (25%)
44 – enrolled (62%)
9 – ineligible/duplicate (12%)
Of the 44 enrolled households
5 – Asian
6 – Black / African America
12 – Latino
16 – White
4 – blank
1 – other
Of the 44 enrolled households
107 total people are served including 33 children
9 households report an occupant over 55 years of age
Approximately 60% are of color (not counting blank responses)
The Town’s assistance is, on average, covering around 60% of the monthly rent due. The average assistance per household is $935/month.
2
To date we have disbursed $89,800 and are committed to disburse $32,500 leaving space in the program for approximately 10 new
households. December is the last month for 17 participants.
Some of the reasons households report for needing assistance include:
• My position was terminated on May 16, 2020 due to COVID caused corporate restructuring
• I worked as a cook and the State shut down all restaurants on March 16th due to Covid-19
• I lost both of my jobs on March 12 due to COVID-19 19. Both of the businesses that I worked at have not reopen as of present
date.
• I was a full-time Uber driver, but when Covid-19 began, demand for drivers almost entirely disappeared and I couldn't afford
to continue working for the service. Due to these circumstances, I began collecting unemployment.
• Was employed as a facilities manager at a local sports program for children. We closed in March and when small business
loans came through they kept us til those ran out mid-June, then eliminated my position. No chance of it returning til next
year at best.
• My husband works in a restaurant, and he lost his job in March when all restaurants shut down due to Covid-19. When the
restaurant reopened, they did not have the capacity to hire back the entire staff, and he was not hired back. He is still looking
for another source of employment and has not been successful.
• I was self-employed and my business was affected about the pandemic. I was in transportation business.
• I am a Taxi driver and due to COVID-19…I have not worked since the pandemic began. I have under 18 dependents …with [health issues]
….
• My wife and I both have lost our jobs because of the pandemic in March. I was laid off from maintenance and my wife was a
housecleaner and could not continue working in people's homes (we are hoping she will start working again in November) ….
• I was working part time at [a local branch of a national company] and I was let go due to [company] filing for Bankruptcy and had to let
employees go.
3
Town of Watertown Staff options for 2nd round of emergency
rental program
Staff recommends options 3
Option Title
HH
6
mos
HH
5
mos
HH
3
mos
Total
HH
New $$
proj
New $$
committed Total $$ Ending
1 Run Out 1st round 0 0 55 55 0 $0 $175,000 April
2 No Extensions/Take New 0 0 75 75 $64,000 $100,000 $275,000 May
3 Extend Enrollees 2 mos/Take New 0 40 16 56 $77,000 $100,000 $275,000 May
4 Extend Pipeline 3 mos/No New 45 0 5 50 $97,000 $100,000 $275,000 July
Notes
1 HH=households. 2 Option 1 for comparison purposes. 3 There are 44 current enrollees, and 18 in pipeline. Many in pipeline will not complete app/qualify.
4 Option 3 projects steady demand (4-8 apps per month), while Option 2 projects double demand. 5 New enrollees in Option 3 include both some in pipeline and some who newly apply. 6 While both option 2 and 3 project fewer $$, the $100,000 commitment allows for uncertainty in demand.
7 MWC thinks 90% will qualify/extend; if lower %, could have more new/longer extensions. 8 MWC thinks Option 4 should advertise a "last chance" Jan 1 deadline, which blends Options 3 and 4.