Struggling tenants impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic will have access to over $16 million in federal assistance within several weeks, according to county officials.
Lancaster County Commissioner Ray D Agostino announced earlier this week that the county received $16.23 million from the federal government for emergency rental relief funding.
âWe are very pleased to have received the funding,â DâAgostino said. âObviously itâs needed to help the tenants (and landlords) that have been impacted by the pandemic. We are grateful that the government is providing it directly to counties like Lancaster County.â
The Emergency Rental Assistance program was instituted through a federal stimulus bill signed in December. The legislation allocated $25 billion in direct aid to states, U.S. territories and local governments with more than 200,000 residents.
A local housing program advocate says more Lancaster County residents in danger of losing their homes will get help due to an executive order signed by President Joe Biden on Wednesday.
Biden extended the Centers for Disease Control and Preventionâs eviction moratorium through March â a protection for tenants who have faced economic hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The executive order comes after Bidenâs transition team announced a $1.9 trillion economic relief plan last week, a package the new president will continue to push Congress to approve quickly.
âBy extending the CDC moratorium for another two months, the county and community partners will be able to review the U.S. Treasury guidelines and develop a program that isnât rushed, and is fully planned, unlike what we saw with the stateâs Rent Relief Program,â said Justin Eby, deputy executive director of Lancaster County Redevelopment Authority.
Pa rent relief program ended with $96 million in unspent aid [map] lancasteronline.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from lancasteronline.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
East Lampeter Township supervisors unanimously approved a policy that allows hotels and motels in its jurisdiction to become temporary shelters for people who have lost housing due to the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The resolution waives the 30-day maximum tenancy for hotels and motels and allows local housing organizations to work with hoteliers in the township to house individuals facing homelessness for several months.
âI appreciate the collaboration between staff and the organizations,â board Chairman Corey Meyers said right before the vote. âItâs heartwarming this time of year that weâre all doing this.â
âThis would fit within the broader homeless coalition and the services therein,â said Mike McKenna, president of Tabor Community Services. âWe have a pretty robust system for screening individuals who are homeless and connecting them with the shelter that best fits the circumstances for that household.â
East Lampeter Twp considers emergency declaration to allow shelters to be set-up in hotels lancasteronline.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from lancasteronline.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.