May 27, 2020
Tuesday, May 26, during the City of North Miami’s Virtual Regular Council Meeting, the Mayor and councilmembers voted unanimously to approve the amendment to the Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Action Plan, to receive a special allocation in the amount of $452,692 to prevent, prepare and respond to the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis.
On March 27, 2020, President Donald Trump signed the CARES Act in response to the growing public health crisis caused by COVID-19. As a result, on April 2, 2020, North Miami Mayor Philippe Bien-Aime received notice from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that the City of North Miami would receive the supplemental allocation of CDBG-CV grant funding to help residents and businesses impacted by COVID-19. City of North Miami administration outlined a plan to disburse the funds.
“This allocation of funds for our residents and business community could not have come at a better time,” said Bien-Aime. “As we face the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a very present need for various forms of relief in our community. Households and businesses are in need of assistance; and federal support such as this will take our ability to provide appropriate forms of aid much further.”
A total of $90,000 will be allocated for meal assistance through experienced meal providers who will deliver meals to low to moderate income residents. An emphasis will be placed on residents in quarantine, the elderly and those limited by social distancing guidelines due to the coronavirus.
For Emergency Tenant-Based Rental Assistance, $157,427 will be allocated to fund emergency rental assistance for low to moderate income residents experiencing lost or reduced wages due to COVID-19 and who reside outside of North Miami’s Community Redevelopment Agency (NMCRA) boundaries. This program will be administered by the City of North Miami’s Housing and Social Services Department. The deadline to apply is Friday, June 12, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. Completed applications and copies of required documents will be accepted at the Housing & Social Services Satellite Office, located at 13753 NW 7th Avenue, North Miami, FL.
An allocation of $40,000 will be allotted for low to moderate income North Miami residents impacted by the coronavirus pandemic to receive mental health services through experienced providers.
Funds in the amount of $120,000 will be allocated for Workforce and Business Initiative Assistance. These funds will enable small businesses or microenterprises to survive the mid and post coronavirus pandemic through working capital, technical assistance with establishing digital tools, provide for cleaning and sanitation of workspaces and workforce certifications in related healthcare fields.
The remaining $45,265 will be allocated for administrative and planning costs needed to develop or adapt and implement programs that address the impact of the coronavirus.
For more information, please contact the City of North Miami’s Housing and Social Services Department at 305-895-9895.