Towards that end, Red River Valley Community Action is creating a program to make use of a nearly $146,000 grant, made possible through the Coronavirus, Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act. More funding is expected to follow. Kent Keys, executive director of RRVCA, said he expects guidelines for the program will be out by the middle of the month, and it should address a variety of needs.
“Rent would be a major one,” Keys said in a phone call with the Herald. “Probably food, utilities and rent. I think those would be the top three.”
Luellen Hart, economic assistance supervisor for Grand Forks County, said her office has seen an uptick in applications for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. The program provides a wide array of services to families but doesn’t address housing.
“It just has increased with COVID,” Hart said.
Dave Sena, president of the United Way of Grand Forks/East Grand Forks Area, said 100 people representing 32 households have applied for rental and utilities assistance. That program can provide qualified applicants with COVID related needs, with up to 50% or $750 of their rent. United Way also has a fund to assist with transportation needs.
The North Dakota Department of Human Services administers a COVID Emergency Rent Bridge program, that supplies temporary rental assistance to those who have lost household income. The program requires tenants to use 30% of their income to pay rent, and the program pays the difference up to a maximum limit, which changes by county. In Grand Forks, the limit is $650 for a one-bedroom apartment.
Those needing assistance should contact the respective agency to undergo a means assessment to determine eligibility. The Rent Bridge program can be completed online. Each agency has different criteria for eligibility. People involved in assistance programs don’t receive cash. Rental assistance, for example, is paid directly to a landlord.
At RRVCA, assistance coming from its recent CARES Act grant is set at 200% of the poverty level. The Department of Health and Human Services expanded the qualifying income level, in anticipation of increased need. This means a single person can earn up to $25,520 per year and still be eligible. For a family of four, that increases to $52,400.
“My assumption is that they think there's going to be people suffering regardless of poverty level, so they upped it slightly,” Keys said.
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June 06, 2020 at 10:00PM
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Economic assistance programs work to meet increased need - Grand Forks Herald
"assistance" - Google News
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