WASHINGTON – Today, Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-03) sent a letter of support on behalf of the City of Tucson and Pima County to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen requesting the approval of $24 million in Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) Funds.

As of Dec. 13, 2021, the City of Tucson and Pima County have finalized 7,860 emergency rental fund assistance cases and have 1,626 cases currently in process necessitating an additional $24 million. If the requested funds are not reallocated, ERA for the City of Tucson and Pima County will end mid-January although the need for rental assistance will persist.

In the letter, the Congressman urges Secretary Yellen to reallocate funding to City of Tucson and Pima County:

“The City of Tucson and Pima County have met all necessary requirements for reallocation and have efficiently obligated their initial allocated funds. I urge you to expedite the necessary reallocation of $24 million to the City of Tucson and Pima County as they have demonstrated the need for the additional funds and have the capacity to obligate those funds pursuant to ERA eligibility requirements. I thank you for taking this request into consideration and look forward to working with the Department of Treasury to ensure that the ERA program continues to provide necessary emergency rental assistance to all those adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic not only in the City of Tucson and Pima County but across the nation.”

According to theConsolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, the Department of Treasury has the authority to recapture excess ERA1 funds from grantees that have failed to obligate funds for eligible ERA1 purposes and reallocate those funds to grantees that have obligated at least 65% of their initial allocation and have shown continued need. Through partnership, the City of Tucson and Pima County have efficiently obligated 65% their initial ERA1 funds and have demonstrated the need for the requested funds and capacity to use those funds pursuant to eligible ERA1 purposes by September 30, 2022. As of December 20, 2021, the City of Tucson and Pima County have distributed nearly $38.5 million in rental assistance and have received 30,766 eviction prevention requests.

The full letter can be found here.