Mayor Levar M. Stoney announced Tuesday that Richmond will use an infusion of federal cash and city funds to pour $5.8 million into emergency housing for homeless people, the creation of more housing and services to those at risk of eviction when courts resume action on cases, possibly on Monday, May 18.

The mayor called the initiative a stepped-up city effort to care for “our most vulnerable” people. He laid out his plan that relies

heavily on nearly $4.3 million in federal funds just a day after city Budget Director Jay Brown told City Council that the Stoney administration had no information available on the amount the city could expect in state and federal relief.

In response to a Free Press query, Dr. Brown stated that the council was notified Friday of the extra housing dollars, which are kept separate from the general fund. However, the City Clerk’s Office could find no record of that notice.

Initial use of the $5.8 million, the mayor stated, would include steering $250,000 to Housing Opportunities Made Equal to support the Eviction Diversion Program and providing another $300,000 to Homeward, the regional homeless services agency, to support its housing of nearly 100 unsheltered people for 90 days in city hotels.

Those city dollars apparently would come from a $2.1 million fund the mayor created in March to address emergency housing needs after the COVID-19 state of emergency was issued.

As to the nearly $4.3 million made available to the city through the federal CARES Act, Mayor Stoney stated the lion’s share, $2.68 million, would go to the city’s Community Development Block Grant program to increase funding to nonprofit groups that develop affordable housing.

The mayor stated that the city would issue a public notice of funding availability, or NOFA, and request applications from eligible organizations seeking a share of the funding for affordable housing development.

The mayor also proposed to use $1.35 million for grants for emergency housing solutions to be awarded after the NOFA is issued and applications are received, with the focus on creating new overflow shelter space for next winter. The remaining $194,445 would be used to provide additional housing options for people with AIDS, another federal grant program the city operates, he stated. That funding also would be the subject of a NOFA request for applications, he added.

Separately, Mayor Stoney stated he would ask City Council to amend the current budget to allow $1 million in the city’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund to be used to create emergency housing, permanent supportive housing and affordable housing to boost options for low-income residents. That also would be the subject of a NOFA, he stated.

The mayor urged people needing housing assistance to contact the Homeless Crisis Line, (804) 972-0813; the Family Crisis Fund, (804) 646-6464; or the Eviction Helpline, (833) 663-8428 or visit at www.rvastrong.org.