MARTIN COUNTY — Nearly $2 million in federal COVID-19 relief — providing residents with mortgage, rent and utility assistance — could come as early as August.
United Way of Martin County, in partnership with the House of Hope of Martin County and the Salvation Army, expect to start a $50,000 marketing campaign next week to encourage residents to apply for the help.
Martin County households up to 300% above the poverty line are eligible for assistance, which nonprofit leaders hope will help some of the middle class, as well.
“This is a big boost to a lot of working families ,” Rob Ranieri, executive director of the House of Hope, said Wednesday.
More: Martin County prepares to distribute up to $28 million in CARES Act funds
The money from the federal CARES Act comes as the state moratorium on evictions is to end on Friday unless Gov. Ron DeSantis extends it, and COVID-19 unemployment benefits may be reduced or eliminated.
“We have a perfect storm ready to happen in Martin County,” United Way of Martin County Executive Director Carol Houwaart-Diez said. “We know there are people who have never needed assistance before and will need it.”
Martin County commissioners approved a $5.5 million plan Tuesday to distribute CARES Act money toward personal assistance and emergency food relief. A total of $28 million is to go toward helping small businesses, municipalities and constitutional offices in the county. County officials negotiated a roughly 10% administrative fee, or up to $550,000, to help cover the costs of running the programs, conducting an audit and possibly covering overhead.
About $3.5 million is to go toward food banks, in an effort to replenish depleted stocks at both major food banks and local places of worship. About 9%, or $289,000, is to go for administrative fees, which will go partly to the United Way and partly to its partner organizations.
The need from families for both food and housing assistance is significantly higher than normal, Ranieri said.
In a typical year, House of Hope provides $30,000-$35,000 in rental, mortgage and utility assistance, Ranieri said. While there is always a demand above the amount available, the demand it is seeing now in the community is far above what’s typical.
In the four to five months the community has seen the economic challenges from the coronavirus, House of Hope has distributed nearly $50,000 for housing assistance, Ranieiri said. The United Way of Martin County has distributed around $130,000 in similar rental and mortgage assistance during the months fighting COVID-19.
Out of up to $2 million the United Way has to distribute for personal housing assistance, 10% is to cover administrative fees. About 5% is to go to the United Way, which will handle an audit, and 5% between the House of Hope and Salvation Army, Houwaart-Diez said.
“That’ll be helpful to give us a little security,” Ranieri said about the administrative reimbursement, which is a part of the CARES Act. “It’s a tough time in the nonprofit world.”
To begin a pre-screening program to find out if you qualify for rental, mortgage or utility relief, you can go to https://ift.tt/39GonMQ and follow the prompts to a questionnaire. The United Way, which can be reached at 772-283-4800, may be in touch with you afterward to put you in contact with the House of Hope or Salvation Army.
Joshua Solomon is a watchdog and government reporter covering Martin County. You can reach him at 772-692-8935 or joshua.solomon@tcpalm.com. Support our local journalism.
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July 30, 2020 at 05:01AM
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United Way of Martin County to get $2 million from county for housing assistance - TCPalm
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