Dallas City Council considering an additional $10 million in rental, mortgage assistance; $7 million - The Dallas Morning News

Updated at 12:40 p.m. to include information about a passed rapid rehousing program.

More relief may soon be on the way for Dallas renters and homeowners who have been financially impacted by the rampant spread of COVID-19.

Dallas City Council will vote Wednesday on accepting about $10 million from the federal government to offer more aid to city residents.

The new round of funding will add to the $13.7 million that the city allocated back in April to assist city residents in paying their rents, mortgages and utilities.

City officials have so far committed about $1.2 million in payments from that program, according to an updated presented to council members earlier this week. About 86 households have received aid, and almost 700 applications are pending.

More than 13,000 people completed initial screenings for the city’s assistance program after a turbulent early May launch that saw many people kicked off the application tool before they could complete the screening.

So far, about 56% of those who applied for help from the city are Black; about 32% are white; and about 21% identified as Hispanic.

The assistance program set up in April has been a bit slow to get going due to federal requirements tied to the vetting process, said Eric Anthony Johnson, Dallas’ chief of economic development and housing and neighborhood revitalization.

Johnson said he expects the department of Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization to help about 1,000 households with the money it would receive from the $10 million council is considering.

“Staff has to go back and forth constantly to verify documentation. Sometimes they don’t get a call back from applicants,” Johnson said before Wednesday’s meeting. “It takes much more time than we anticipated.”

Johnson said he expects the new round of funding to be a bit more flexible because it’s funded through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.

Denise Benavides, a resident of Oak Cliff, said she’s waiting to hear back from city workers about whether or not she will receive help in paying her rent. She applied in May and has been contacted several times to provide documents proving that she needs the help.

Benavides was let go from her part-time job at a small insurance firm in March and her husband, who works as a self-employed mechanic, has had little work. They’ve used federal stimulus money to pay bills and other expenses and their landlord has been lenient with their rent.

She said that receiving this help from the city would allow her family to save money at a time when COVID-19′s impact on the economy continues.

“It would allow me to sleep at night a bit easier because we don’t know where this virus is going,” Benavides said. “Texas keeps seeing an increase of cases and I’m scared we’ll shut down again.”

Johnson said the department may partner with outside nonprofit organizations to distribute the funds among city residents. Applicants would receive up to two months of assistance.

The new funding would have similar requirements as the assistance programs set up in April. Residents would have to prove that they:

• Live in the city of Dallas.
• Make less than 80% of the area median income.
• Have been financially impacted by COVID-19, either job loss or lost hours.
• Are at risk of homelessness.

Rapid rehousing program approved

Council members on Wednesday approved about $7.1 million for a two-year rapid rehousing program that will be administered through seven area nonprofits that work with homeless people, including the Salvation Army, Family Gateway and Union Gospel Mission.

The program can be extended by one year after the program expires.

Qualifying applicants would receive help paying move-in costs, 12 months of rental assistance and utilities and 16 months of case management. Case managers would help recipients get better employment and coach them through staying housed.

Kevin Oden, interim director of the Office of Homeless Solutions, told council members that his office hoped housing would start in early July.

He added that the office has a goal of housing about 300 people by October, calling it a “highly ambitious” goal.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

"assistance" - Google News
June 25, 2020 at 12:48AM
https://ift.tt/37VvyzA

Dallas City Council considering an additional $10 million in rental, mortgage assistance; $7 million - The Dallas Morning News
"assistance" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2Ne4zX9
Shoes Man Tutorial
Pos News Update
Meme Update
Korean Entertainment News
Japan News Update

Bagikan Berita Ini