Submitted By
Kira Tchang, Assistant Village Manager/Human Resources Director
Reviewed By
Erin E. Baynes, Assistant to the Village Manager
Agenda Item Title
Title
A Resolution Authorizing the Submission of a Grant Application to the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus for Supporting Municipalities for Asylum Seeker Services (SMASS) III in Partnership with the Illinois Department of Human Services with a Requested Funding Amount of $350,000
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Overview
Overview
Staff requests the Village Board adopt a Resolution authorizing the submission of a grant application with the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus for $350,000 to provide for the distribution and management of aid provided to new arrivals and unhoused community members from the period of July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025.
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Recommendation
Recommendation
Adopt the Resolution.
Background
To date, the Village has received two grants from the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus' Supporting Municipalities for Asylum Seeker Services (SMASS), and two grants from the Cook County Disaster Response and Recovery Fund (DRRF) for the purpose of supporting asylum-seeking migrants in the community.
Through SMASS I, the Village received a total of $400,000, utilized primarily to operate the Village's temporary shelter program located at the Carleton Hotel, West Cook YMCA, and Grace Episcopal Church for November and December of 2023. This was supplemented during January and February 2024 with approximately $365,000 provided through the first Cook County DRRF grant.
Through SMASS II, the Village received a grant of over $2 million which was subsequently expensed at approximately $660,000 and utilized primarily for legal services, short-term rental assistance, and administrative costs from March through June 2024. The original SMASS II grant included over $1.3 million in requested funds to operate the Oak Park Family Transitional Shelter (OPFTS) from March 2024 to June 2024. Upon the request of the State of Illinois and Cook Coun...
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