Help for Jefferson County residents who rent their home or apartment and have fallen behind in rental or utility payments is on its way.
The Jefferson County Council gave preliminary approval Feb. 8 to a budget amendment that would allow the county to accept $6,732,004 through the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program.
The program, part of the federal CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act and the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021, is designed to help households unable to pay rent and utilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The County Council was expected to accept the money at its meeting on Monday, after the Leader deadline.
Under terms of the program, only certain local government jurisdictions, like counties, could apply for money, and only if their populations are more than 200,000.
The county’s estimated population in 2019 was 225,081.
David Courtway, the county’s director of administration, said as soon as the population guidelines were publicized, the county applied to participate.
He said he and other county officials are awaiting word from the federal and state governments on how to administer the program.
“At this point, I can tell you it is for renters only, but we’re trying to get more information on how that is to be defined,” he said. “I can tell you the program expires at the end of the year.”
Courtway said he and other county officials have been speaking with representatives from the Jefferson-Franklin Community Action Corporation and Comtrea about the program.
Auditor Kristy Apprill said many details need to be ironed out before applications can be accepted.
“We’re still working on the process,” she said. “We’re assuming this will be similar to the CARES Act, where JFCAC will look at applications first. They’re the experts. Then my office will add oversight and review.”
Courtway agreed.
“The JFCAC does a lot of great work already with assisting people who need help with housing,” he said. “We expect to lean heavily on their expertise.”
According to the Treasury Department’s website, eligible households may receive up to 12 months of assistance, plus an additional three months if the grantee determines the extra months are needed to ensure the applicant is not forced to leave their home and if money is available. Also, landlords may apply on behalf of their tenants.
According to the site, an “eligible household” is defined as a household that is rented and at least one person qualifies for unemployment or has experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs or experienced a financial hardship due to COVID-19, is at risk of being homeless or has a household income at or below 80 percent of the area median.
Courtway said as many as 1,100 people in Jefferson County may be eligible for help. “That’s a very rough estimate,” he said.
He said officials hope to announce the procedures to apply within the next couple of weeks, with hopes of authorizing the first checks in early April.