JOHN E. SETTLE JR
Focus SB News
The Caddo Commission has been notified it will receive $7.1 million from the U.S. Treasury Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERA). This funding is based on the parish population exceeding 200,000.
This program mandates that 90% of the funds must be used for rental payments and utility assistance.
Payments will be made by the parish to landlords, and landlords can apply for their tenants.
U.S. Census Bureau data shows:
a. The parish has approximately 33,000 rental units with an average $810 monthly rental.
b. Approximately 74% of renters pay rent in the amounts of $500 to $1,500 monthly.
c. Medium income for renters is $22,370 with an estimated 18,600 of the population below the 80% medium income.
d. An estimated 10,000 people are at a high risk of housing insecurity.
An “eligible household” is defined in the legislation as a renter household in which at least one or more individuals meets the following criteria:
i. qualifies for unemployment or has experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs or experienced a financial hardship due to COVID-19;
ii. demonstrates a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability;
iii. has a household income at or below 80 percent of the area medium.
Rental assistance provided to an eligible household cannot be duplicative of any other federally funded rental assistance provided to that household.
Eligible households that include an individual who has been unemployed for the 90 days prior to application and households with income at or below 50 percent of the area median are to be prioritized for assistance.
Household income is determined as either the household’s total income for calendar year 2020 or the household’s monthly income at the time of application. For household incomes determined used the latter method, income eligibility must be redetermined every three months.
Eligible households may receive up to 12 months of assistance.
These moneys are to be used for payment of existing housing-related arrears that could result in eviction. Future rental assistance is limited to up to three months at a time.
The parish will contract with local agencies to screen applicants pursuant to Treasury regulations.
The resolution passed by the Commission on Jan. 21, which is non-binding, names the United Way of Northwest Louisiana, The Providence House and community development corporations associated with Mt. Canaan Baptist Church and Praise Temple.
The Commission administration has not vetted any agencies for this program at this time. Other local agencies may be included in the parish program.
Many of the details of EPA are yet to formulated by the Treasury before the program can be fully implemented by the parish.
The Treasury Office of Inspector General will conduct oversight of the program and may recoup funds from any government that fails to comply with the restrictions on the use of funds.
More information will be posted published in Focus SB as it becomes available.
THIS ARTICLE WAS PUBLISHED IN THE January 19 ISSUE OF FOCUS SB - THE INQUISITOR.