Columbus City Council approved another $9.5 million in federal rent assistance to be distributed by a local non-profit to qualifying residents.
The Columbus City Council distributed another $9.5 million in federal rent and utility assistance to a local nonprofit group, part of a second round of $21.55 billion in relief passed by Congress last year.
"Even as the American economy continues its recovery from the devastating impact of the pandemic, millions of Americans face deep rental debt and fear evictions and the loss of basic housing security," the U.S. Treasury says on its website page for its"Emergency Rental Assistance Program." The second federal allocation brings to $46.55 billion in federal aid sent toColumbus' latest $9.
"The funds will be used for emergency rental and utility assistance, supportive services, and targeted outreach to Columbus residents that had not yet had access to emergency rental assistance programs," the City Council said in a written statement Monday evening. Economic disruptions caused by COVID-19 resulted in an eviction moratorium that was eventually lifted locally in the summer of 2021, leading local official to fear a wave of evictions. But the wave didn't materialize,for both tenants and landlords.
"There are a plethora of resources that have definitely helped to avert a crisis situation," Bo Chilton, executive director of IMPACT Community Action, told The Dispatch last October.