Wake Board Approves $19.3 Million For Eviction Prevention, Utility Assistance

Press release from the Wake County Government:

by Leah Holdren on 2/1/2021 5:08 PM
Category: WakeGOV Home Page

The Wake County Board of Commissioners has approved using $19.3
million in federal funding to help struggling renters keep roofs over their
heads and the utilities running during the pandemic.

Wake County will use these funds to extend and expand the House
Wake! COVID-19 Eviction Prevention Program, launched in September
2020.

“Ensuring all our residents have
safe, reliable housing during this pandemic is critical,” said Wake County
Commissioner Dr. James West. “As a board, we’re committed to linking our
residents with the resources they need to avoid eviction and utility
disconnections. This additional funding will allow us to continue providing
this service through the end of the year.”

Previous funding for House Wake! expired on Jan. 31. To finalize
the details of the new funding, which comes from the Emergency Rental
Assistance Program, House Wake! has temporarily stopped accepting applications.
The aid and support for renters who applied to House Wake! on or before this
date will continue during the pause.

President Biden’s extension of the national eviction moratorium
through the end of March ensures renters are not displaced and landlords can
receive the assistance they need. The final details of the new funding’s
allocation and rollout within House Wake! will be shared soon. Applications
will reopen before the eviction moratorium expires.

Wake County will continue to work with Telamon Corporation on
the eviction prevention program and will contract with them to administer the
utility payment assistance.

“Using this already established program and application process,
we hope to avoid confusion for those applying, get the new funding out to those
in need quickly and maximize our ability to help,” said Wake County Housing
Affordability and Community Revitalization Director Lorena McDowell. “The House
Wake! COVID-19 Eviction Prevention Program has already received more than 2,000
applications from renters in Wake County, and I’m excited to see how many more
families and landlords that this additional funding will enable us to
serve.”

Emergency Rental Assistance Program funds can be used for the
following purposes:

• Rent and rental debts;
• Utilities and home energy costs; and
• Other expenses related to housing
  incurred due, directly or indirectly, to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Assistance can be provided for up to 12 months. The county is
working with the U.S. Treasury Department on guidance that defines eligible
supplemental housing services costs, whether utility assistance can be provided
as a stand-alone service, and how eligibility may be impacted by those who
already received assistance under prior COVID-19 response programs. The new
Emergency Rental Assistance Program funds come with slightly different income
eligibility, verification and documentation requirements.

###

This press release was produced by the Wake County Government. The views expressed here are the author’s own.