Apply Online for Homeowner-Occupied Assistance
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Introduction

Homeowner-occupied households across the City of Anderson (herein “City”) have been significantly and negatively impacted by the COVID-19 global pandemic, and ARPA funds have been allocated to provide assistance to those households. The City has initiated a Request for Proposal process (herein “RFP”) which seeks proposals from Anderson homeowner-occupied households requesting COVID-19 related assistance in the form of a grant from the City. For the purposes of this RFP, only homeowner residents of the City of Anderson are eligible to apply. Proof of homeownership and residency must be in the form of recorded deed of ownership and valid identification issued from the State of Indiana or the United States Federal Government. All persons listed as owners of the property must be income qualified. It is the express intention of this RFP to provide assistance primarily to low income households. Proposals should provide as much information as possible detailing the negative economic impacts that COVID-19 has had on your household, and how ARPA grant funds would be used to counter those impacts.

Submission and Review of Proposals

The City will be accepting online and hard copy proposals in response to this solicitation until Date: April 13, 2023, or until such time as this RFP is suspended or terminated by the City.  Hard copies of the proposal may be picked up in the City Clerk’s Office located at City Hall, 120 East 8^th Street, Anderson, Indiana.  All hard copy proposals shall be submitted directly to the Utility Drop Box on the south side of 7^th Street, North of City Hall (c/o ARPA Homeowner Assistance Committee), at 120 East 8^th Street, Anderson, Indiana 46016. Proposals in response to this RFP will be accepted for submission starting on Date: February 10, 2023.

Homeowner Assistance Program is also allocating resources in partnership with the Affordable Housing Program priority census tracts: 4, 5.3, 8.1, and 119.1.

Evaluation Criteria

Only eligible uses of funds under ARPA will be considered for evaluation under this RFP. Eligible proposals will be evaluated in accordance with the Comparative Criteria set forth in this RFP. Proposals should focus on providing as much specific evidence on the following subject matter:

• The severity of the negative economic and/or health impacts from COVID-19 on your household.
• Your plan for use of ARPA funds to counteract the negative economic and/or health impacts for use on your household, including the capacity of the household to successfully implement the plan.

Requirements

Responses must contain five basic components to be considered for evaluation, as follows:

• Executed forms (all included with this RFP):
  • Household RFP Cover Sheet (including proposal specific information)
  • Tax Certification Form
  • Income Certification Form Completed, Signed, and Dated
  • Supporting Income Documentation for all Household Members
• A clear description that demonstrates the severity of the negative economic and/or health impacts from COVID-19 on your household.
• A clear description demonstrating the planned use of the ARPA funds to counteract the negative economic and/or health impacts; and
• Capacity of the household to successfully implement the plan
• Duplication of benefit analysis

Example: Request for workforce training funding: Copy of the acceptance into the program with a start date, cost of the program, end date, and a clearly defined course description from the accrediting institution.

Reporting Requirements

ARPA Funds may be used to cover costs from March 3, 2021, through December 31, 2024; due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Please note that all ARPA funds must be fully obligated by December 31, 2024, and fully expended by December 31, 2026.

Financial records and supporting documents related to an award under this RFP must be retained for a period of six (6) years after all funds have been expended or returned to Treasury, whichever is later. This includes records which demonstrate that the award funds were used for eligible purposes in accordance with ARPA, Treasury’s regulations and guidance on eligible uses of funds.

Recipients of awards under this RFP should maintain records to support their assessment of how they were affected by the negative economic and/or health impacts of the pandemic and how the aid provided through the grant responds to these impacts.  Record Keeping:  Recipients are to keep a copy of application and supporting documents provided with the application in a file, clearly marked ARPA for six (6) years after the receipt of funding and keep in safe place for easy retrieval.

Recipients should take note of the following requirements:

• Income Eligibility for all household members – forms of income that must be reported and documented; Earned income and unearned income including (Payroll, Social Security, Disability, TANF, Food Stamps, Retirement Pensions, Investment and Rental Income, E-Commerce Income, and Child Support).  Income excluded from eligibility calculation: Earned Income of children under the age of 18 years old who work.
• Proof of homeownership (example: Warranty Deed, Quit Claim, etc)
• Documentation supporting the need for service
• Expenditures unrelated to home repairs: You will be required to submit an “Expenditure Report” until the funded project plan is complete. 
• Home Repairs: All approved work under contracts will be paid directly to the contractors.
• All requests for home repairs must accompany 3 estimates from contractors. Contractors will be required to provide a Unique Entity Identifier number (UEI) issued by SAM.gov.  All skilled trades must be licensed and in good standing with the City Municipal Development Department. All contracts are between the homeowner and the contractor. The City ARPA program will serve as the payee only. Applicants must not enter into a contract before receiving a notice of award.  No contract will be approved before the notice of award.
• The City will make payments directly to Vendor/Contractor upon verification of permits and inspections, where applicable.
• Evidence of the need for service and negative impact of the pandemic are required.