Funds remain unclaimed for pandemic-related rent and utilities assistance

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Despite the economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, and a backlog of unpaid rent, almost three-quarters of the COVID-19 Rental and Utilities Assistance Fund remains available.

During the Olympia City Council meeting yesterday, City Manager Jay Burney provided an update on the assistance fund. Burney claimed that the Community Action Council still has sufficient capacity to handle the current number of applicants. In total, the Council still has a remaining $28 million in its assistance budget. Moreover, the Council also provides a $1 million weekly budget to cover rental and assistance applications.

Currently, Burney said that the council has already approved 1,600 applications which includes providing $10.5 million in rental assistance, $422,000 in utility assistance and $70,000 in other housing-related assistance.

Overall, Burney said that those who had received rental and utilities assistance includes 711 households with children under the age of 18. In addition, the majority of the approved applications comes from low-income families 

Burney also encouraged residents who are struggling with housing instability to set an appointment, “If you are in need of assistance with past due rent or utilities due to COVID impacts, I encourage members of the community to contact them right away.”

To apply, interested applicants must meet the four initial screening criteria:

  • They are a resident of Thurston County
  • They have an income below 80 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI)
  • They are experiencing financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic
  • They are experiencing housing instability or at risk of homelessness.

To learn more, residents may visit the Community Action Council website or call 360-438-1100.

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  • DeaneTR

    There wouldn't be funds remaining if they were doing their job distributing the money. When you go to the website it says no appointments available. All across the country governments are claiming covid relief to poor people is going slowly, but could it be they're thinking if it takes too long to distribute the money they could argue the necessity to re-allocate funds for other uses? Only time will tell...

    Thursday, August 26, 2021 Report this