Help is on the way for Union County residents who can’t pay their rent Union County residents who can't pay their rent or utility bills are getting a helping hand. The Union County Board of Commissioners is launching a new $16.6 million grant program to help residents unable to pay their rent due to the pandemic. Commissioner Board Chairman Alexander Mirabella said under the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, eligible tenants can receive up to 12 months of assistance for unpaid back rent and utility bills and three months of assistance going forward. He said the goal of this program is to help both landlords and tenants through the end of this pandemic. A lot of the securities are being released from a perspective of safeguards against individuals through COVID. Now is the time to help people, he added.