HomeMy WebLinkAbout(0003) IR 21-10575 - Assistance to Apartment Tenants Displayed February Winter StormINFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
No. 21-10575
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council April 20, 2021
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SUBJECT: ASSISTANCE TO APARTMENT TENANTS DISPLACED BY THE
rrA FEBRUARY WINTER STORM
The City Council has requested updated information about the City's assistance to apartment
tenants displaced by the February winter storm. Neighborhood Services (NS), Code Compliance,
Catholic Charities, City Communications and Public Engagement, Fire Department's Office of
Emergency Management (OEM) have continued to work closely to ensure affected apartment
residents are aware of the approaching FEMA deadline to apply for Individual Assistance.
FEMA DR-4586 is the Texas Disaster Declaration that covers the winter storm from February 11
— 21, 2021. It includes Public and Individual Assistance for category B only (Emergency
Protective Measures). Individuals affected by the winter storm can apply for assistance through
https://www.disasterassistance.gov or by phone 1-800-621-FEMA (3362).
Neighborhood Services staff worked with the Communications and Public Engagement team to
develop a communication plan with the overall goal to utilize all available media channels to
advertise the FEMA application deadline, ways to apply, application Q & As, how to videos,
informational flyers and electronic messaging through social media including Facebook and
Instagram. Police and Fire have posted information on their media channels.
Saturday, April 10, a team from Code Compliance visited the Reserve at Bellevue to contact the
39 remaining tenants.
Out of the remaining 39 tenants:
• 15 tenants have confirmed that they have relocated or have found a place to live
• 15 tenant were unable to be reached by personal or phone contact
• 9 tenants are still having difficulty finding a place to relocate
To date the following activities have taken place:
• Upload of key FEMA flyers in prominent places on the city's website and added the FEMA
video to City's You Tube channel
• Emailed information packets to affected apartment locations
• Published a City News article on April 12 reminding the public that April 20 is the deadline
to apply for assistance from FEMA
• Key information has been published in English, Spanish and Vietnamese.
• Engaged Northwest Texas Legal Aid for those who may need assistance related to
tenants' rights.
The Neighborhood Services' Community Action Partners (CAP) program has received 53
applications from tenants at the Reserve at Bellevue (7301 Ederville Road, Council District 5) and
4 applications from tenants from Mira Monte Villas (2800 Las Vegas Trail, Council District 3).
• A total of 19 households have been certified for hotel vouchers. There are some
applications which are pending required paperwork ($9,591.33)
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
No. 21-10575
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council April 20, 2021
Page 2 of 2
i g
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SUBJECT: ASSISTANCE TO APARTMENT TENANTS DISPLACED BY THE
rrA FEBRUARY WINTER STORM
• A total of 14 households have been approved for deposits and first month's rent.
($14,640.98). This number continues to increase pending apartment move -in approvals
• A total of eight (8) households were approved for utility assistance. ($2,618.67)
Community Action Partners, Catholic Charities and Fort Worth Housing Solutions are
coordinating assistance for those having difficulty finding a place to relocate. Support for the
services has been funded from the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG). Programs
provided are goal -directed and support individual/family, community, and/or goals. National goals
include the following.
• Goal 1: Individuals and families with low incomes are stable and achieve economic
security.
• Goal 2: Communities where people with low incomes live are healthy and offer economic
opportunity
• Goal 3: People with low incomes are engaged and active in building opportunities in
communities.
Future actions include:
• Neighborhood Services and VOAD will coordinate a meeting to assist residents with FEMA
after the Individual Assistance application deadline of May 20, 2021.
• OEM will host weekly coordination meetings with partnering City Departments and
agencies.
Neighborhood Services staff continues to work with the Reserve at Bellevue and Mira Monte
Villas to provide information to residents about how to access services.
For more information on Neighborhood Services Programs, please contact Victor Turner,
Neighborhood Services Director, at (817) 392-8187.
David Cooke
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER
FORT WORTH, TEXAS