American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA)

The Rental Assistance Program was launched in April 2023 to assist low-income tenants impacted by COVID who are experiencing a temporary financial setback and are at risk of becoming delinquent on rent or who have fallen behind on rent since the Eviction Moratorium was lifted on April 29, 2023. Tenants must reside in Albany, meet income eligibility requirements, and complete the application process, including providing ID and documentation of household finances. Income eligibility limits are based on the HUD Income Limits for Alameda County. After completing a pre-screening call with Albany CARES staff, clients are referred directly to ECHO Housing, the program administrator retained by the city, to start the application process. The maximum grant amount per household is six months of future rent or $21,000. The rental assistance is paid directly to the landlord on behalf of the tenant unless an exception is approved. Assistance for a security deposit and the first 2 months of rent for a more affordable living situation may also be approved. Rent owed from before the Alameda County eviction moratorium was lifted is not covered by the program as tenants cannot be evicted from debt owed from that period.

The Financial Stability & Debt Relief Program was coupled with the Rental Assistance Program and launched in April of 2023. The program is designed to help low-income tenants who are not behind on rent but have accumulated ‘shadow debt' to keep up with their rent, pay for food and other household expenses, or navigate an unexpected financial setback. The application process is the same as the Rental Assistance Program described above. Tenants can receive up to three months of future rent not to exceed $10,500. Debt Relief grants are coupled with financial counseling and development of an action plan to ensure individuals' unique situations are addressed and long-term financial security is cultivated.

Friendship Club is the City's afterschool program for children entering 1st through 5th grades which runs 5 days per week during the school year at Ocean View Park. The Friendship Club Subsidy Program was launched in May 2022 to provide financial subsidies to income eligible Friendship Club families who reside in Albany. Income eligibility limits are based on the HUD Income Limits for Alameda County. Depending on income level (categories include low, very low, or extremely low), eligible families can receive up to 75% off their monthly fees. The Subsidy Program also provides subsidies for Friendship Camp during the summer and winter camps, and Junior to the Counselor program. Income-eligible families living in Albany received a 50% discount code to be applied at the time of registration.

Albany Project HOPE is the City's outreach, engagement, case management and housing services program for people experiencing homelessness administered by Insight Housing, formerly the Berkeley Food & Housing Project. Services were augmented in FY 2021-22 to include additional funding to secure a second master leased house for up to four clients. Master leasing a house has proven to be a cost effective and reliable temporary housing option for clients to stabilize while working towards a permanent housing solution. The increased funding also provides additional Rapid Rehousing rental subsidies for 6 new clients for a duration of 12 months, emergency hotel stays for 4 clients for 7 nights, flex funding for program and outreach expenses, assistance with move-in costs, supplies and food costs. ARPA funds also cover 10% of a clinical manager's salary to assist the Albany Project HOPE team with disability verification and other necessary support for permanent housing.

The Albany Community Grocery Program began in February 2022. Up until August 2023, the program provided groceries and essential household items to low-income Albany households every first Friday of the month at the Albany Community Center. The income limit for participation was based on the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Income Limits for Alameda County. Program distribution grew to approximately 135 bags of groceries and essential items bags per month at the Albany Community Center, in addition to 34 essential items bags per month for Mercy Brown Bag participants at the Albany Senior Center. As of September 2023, the program has transitioned to providing grocery gift cards to existing participants on the first Friday of each month until December 2023.

To help support Albany's business community, four grant programs were administered to help address specific needs identified within the business community.

• Business Attraction and Improvement Grant
  The Business Attraction and Improvement Grant is intended to attract new businesses in Albany, fill vacant spaces in commercial areas, and give business owners financial support to overcome startup and facility upgrade costs as they look to grow their business in Albany. This grant is currently only available to businesses moving into a new space but will be broadened to include current Albany businesses looking to upgrade their locations.
• Parklet Grant
  The Parklet Grant is intended to assist businesses with parklets and the business community as a whole by offering financial support to bring the parklets up to code, both in design and safety compliance.
• COVID Small Business Assistance Grant
  The COVID Small Business Assistance Grant Program was launched on April 8, 2022 to help Albany small businesses that endured long, mandated closures, as well as other businesses in the community that were hardest hit by the pandemic. Grants ranging up to $20,000 were awarded to 67 businesses. Grant awards were based on tiered criteria that gave preference to businesses that were closed due to state mandates for long periods of time.
• Window and Door Repair Grant
  The Window and Door Repair Grant was established in 2023 to support businesses and nonprofits impacted by an increase in crimes of vandalism and break-ins over the Winter months. 13 Albany businesses with storefront properties were able to apply for up to $2,500 in reimbursement funds on repairs to windows and doors damaged due to vandalism and break-ins.

The eGift card program was established to encourage further support for our local business community. The eGift Card program was introduced in 2022 during Albany Local Week to encourage community members to shop in Albany. During the onset of this program, a special feature was included wherein those purchasing a gift card would receive a matching gift card amount, also called a BOGO (Buy One Get One) offer.

Advertising efforts to promote Albany's commercial areas include news stories and sponsored advertising, social media advertising, “Albany Local Business” window clings, and street banners installed along Solano, San Pablo and Buchannan Avenues.