Oklahoma County hopes to have more rent assistance next month
Oklahoma City, Okla. (KOKH) — Oklahoma County officials have applied for federal funds made available in the latest stimulus package specifically to help people pay for rent and utilities.
Despite an eviction moratorium, dozens of people are being taken to court each day, because they haven't been able to pay their rent.
Last year, through the CARES Act, many were able to get direct assistance.
Now, more help is on the way with $25 billion set aside for assistance in the most recent relief bill.
“I learned about it probably late last week and I knew that the deadline was January 12, so we had around three to four business days to get it figured out," said County Commissioner Carrie Blumert.
The board of county commissioners voted unanimously to apply for the funds.
Local governments in places with populations of more than 200,000 were able to apply for the funds.
Both Oklahoma County and Oklahoma City have applied.
It's still unclear how much money they will receive, but they hope to have it by early February.
“In 2021, hopefully when we receive these funds, it will look very similar to the way it looked in 2020," Blumert said. "The same non-profit will be actually running the program."
Blumert says the funds will be distributed through Community CARES, the same group that worked with CARES Act funds and even set up shop outside courtrooms where eviction hearings were being held.
This time, the money can only be used for rent and utility assistance.
People or households applying need to be making 80 percent or less of the area median income and people who have been unemployed for three months will get priority.
“At least in my lifetime, we have never seen this type of need to prevent people from being evicted," Blumert said. "Most of these people have lost their job, it’s something that is so out of their control, and the most basic thing we can do right now as the government is to help people stay in their homes."