Managers of Augusta’s Emergency Rental Assistance program have spent $1.7 million of the $6.09 million of the city’s American Rescue Plan money to help prevent evictions of residents behind on their rent and utilities since COVID-19 began.
Some 407 households and 1,005 residents have received assistance under the program so far, according to Daniel Evans, community development manager for the Augusta Housing and Community Development Department.
Evans and Brittany Burnette, president and CEO of the United Way of the CSRA, gave an Augusta Commission committee an update on the program Wednesday, including information on how residents can access it by texting RENT to 50503, emailing www.uwcsra.org or calling 2-1-1.
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Once begun, the process includes resident assessment and landlord engagement, basic resident eligibility determination, unit inspection (basic habitability review), and a vendor documentation process with landlord.
So far, 1,587 months of rental assistance and 360 months of utility assistance has been paid, Evans said.
Program managers have formed a partnership with Richmond County Magistrate Court and have program staff present in eviction court hearings every Wednesday. They have also engaged in information sharing with the Richmond County Marshal’s Office, Evans said.
There are also rehousing resources for evicted residents.
MORE: Some Augusta Commissioners Want Their Own Fund Allocation
The program is able to pay up to three months rent going forward with no rent limitations, Evans said.
The Biden administration extended the initial December deadline for using the money to September 2022, but Evans’ forecast is that it will be through by December.
Another Augusta Commission committee heard Mayor Hardie Davis’ proposal for exploring providing child-care services to city employees and referred it to City Administrator Odie Donald for further
research.
Donald said he is working on a plan for using American Rescue Plan money and that Davis’ proposal will be part of the plan he presents to commissioners next week.
Sylvia Cooper is a Correspondent with The Augusta Press. Reach her at sylvia.cooper@theaugustapress.com.
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