Intake activities for Augusta Housing and Community Development to distribute emergency rental assistance were suspended Wednesday, the city said in a statement.
The city doesn’t anticipate restarting intake, but will inform the community about any future housing or rental assistance opportunities, Communications Manager Chiquita Richardson said in the statement.
The round of ERA 2 grant funds from U.S. Housing and Urban Development offered eligible recipients help with rent and utility payments. The city began accepting applications last week online and in person at HCD headquarters and two events held last week.
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The funds are the same type of emergency rental assistance the Augusta Commission voted to refund to the U.S. Treasury April 1. However, debt collection correspondence from the Treasury department characterized those funds as “ERA 1” funds.
The refund episode led to the resignation of HCD Director Hawthorne Welcher effective Jun. 6. FBI agents visited the city Finance department in connection with the rental assistance funds on May 19, several officials confirmed.
