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ORDER OF THE NEW HAVEN BOARD OF ALDERS TRANSFERRING EIGHT-MILLION DOLLARS AND ZERO CENTS ($8,000,000.00) FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDING AND TRANSFERRING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY RESILIENCE.
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WHEREAS, on March 11, 2021, President Biden signed into law the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (the “Act”) which includes approximately $1.9 trillion in investments designed to address the public health emergency and the direct and adverse impacts to the economy, to people and to community wellbeing; and
WHEREAS, Given the exacerbation of health and mental health disparities during the pandemic and the role of pre-existing social vulnerabilities in driving these disparate outcomes, services to address health disparities are presumed to be responsive to the public health impacts of the pandemic; and,
WHEREAS, Given the exacerbation of health and mental health disparities during the pandemic and the role of pre-existing social vulnerabilities in driving these disparate outcomes, services to address health disparities are presumed to be responsive to the public health impacts of the pandemic; and,
WHEREAS, The American Rescue Plan Act funding could be used for 1) Community violence programs to prevent violence and mitigate the increase in violence during the pandemic; 2) Mental health programs to address pandemic-related mental health impacts; 3) and to mitigate pandemic-related housing insecurity and homelessness.
WHEREAS, The Mayor submitted an ordinance amendment to the Board of Alders to establish the creation of the Department of Community Resilience to address such disparities to coordinate and enhance services and policies pertaining to populations historically at highest need for services and highest risk for poor outcomes in New Haven. The COVID19 pandemic has exposed long-standing and interrelated sets of needs in populations experiencing homelessness, housing insecurity, those involved with the justice system, people with mental health disorders, people who use drugs, victims and perpetrators of violence, survivors of trauma, and those at-risk of trauma. The problems facing these populations are complex and interrelated and will require sustained effort over many years.; and,
WHEREAS, Through the Department of Community Resilience, the City desires to initiate funding to 1) help the department combat violence within the City of New Haven through a variety of services and personnel and 2) support the mental health needs of those who have been exposed to trauma and 3) support services and programs for those with housing insecurity and/or homelessness so that they can maintain stable permanent housing.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE ORFERED by the New Haven Board of Alders that the Board of Alders authorizes the City to draw down from the from the American Rescue Plan Act in the amount of Eight Million Dollars and Zero Cents ($8,000,000.00) to help the Department of Community Resilience combat violence within the City of New Haven through a variety of services and personnel