City Awards Additional $8 Million in COVID-19 Rental and Utility Assistance to Help Residents Facing Housing Instability
Funding
awarded to 12 community organizations will help ensure the equitable
distribution of federal rental assistance
[Columbus, OH] The City of Columbus today awarded $8 million in
federal COVID-19 relief funding to 12 community organizations that will
continue to provide emergency rental assistance (ERA) to residents made
vulnerable by the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding is a second award through the
Stable Housing Initiative, a program introduced in August 2021 when the city
awarded $12.2 million to 26 community organizations to pursue the equitable
distribution of emergency rental assistance in the community.
The 12 organizations receiving funding have exhausted their
first award and will use the additional funding to serve hard-to-reach
populations, including seniors, immigrants and refugees, youth and people with
disabilities. Funds will be used for rental assistance, supportive services,
and targeted outreach to Columbus residents that had not yet had access to
emergency rental assistance programs.
“I am very proud of our community partners for their efforts to support our
most vulnerable populations during these challenging times. Thanks to their
innovation and collaboration, all Columbus residents can now apply for rental
and utility assistance through Rentful614.com, said Councilmember Shayla Favor. Housing
remains my top priority, that is why I will continue to advocate for more ERA
funding."
“The fact that these organizations were able to allocate $12.2
million in rental assistance so quickly demonstrates the magnitude of the need
in our community,” said Mayor Andrew J. Ginther. “I’m pleased to provide
further assistance to organizations that have successfully served our neighbors
in need, so they may remain stably housed as the Omicron variant and the winter
months wear on.”
The U.S. Treasury has awarded more the $47 million to the City
of Columbus to help combat housing stability during the pandemic. These
emergency rental assistance funds are being distributed through the Stable
Housing Initiative partners, as well as, IMPACT Community Action and the
Columbus Urban League.
“With this second round of funds, we will aim to connect
families with additional supportive services,” said Robin Green, Director of
Broad Street Presbyterian Church’s COMPASS program. “We’re excited about
this round of City funding that allows us to continue providing rental/utility
assistance and recommend supportive services for greater stabilization. We are
honored to have been selected to participate in helping our Central Ohio
neighbors.
Organizations awarded the second round of funding through the Stable Housing
Initiative are:
|
Agency
|
Populations served
|
August Award
|
New
Award
|
|
Broad Street Presbyterian Church
|
Seniors, individuals with disabilities and
immigrants and refugees
|
$873,570
|
$1,000,000
|
|
Physicians CareConnection
|
Families residing in the 43228 ZIP code
|
$850,000
|
$1,000,000
|
|
Somali Community Link Inc.
|
Immigrant and refugee households
|
$500,000
|
$1,000,000
|
|
Catholic Social Services Inc.
|
Immigrant Hispanic population, seniors and
youth ages 18- to 24 years old
|
$500,000
|
$600,000
|
|
Central Community House
|
Seniors and youth ages 18 to 24 years old
|
$400,000
|
$600,000
|
|
Clintonville-Beechwold Community Resources
Center
|
Seniors, individuals with disabilities, and
immigrants and refugees
|
$400,000
|
$600,000
|
|
Columbus Literacy Council
|
Immigrants and refugees
|
$425,000
|
$600,000
|
|
Lifecare Alliance
|
Seniors and individuals with disabilities
|
$500,000
|
$600,000
|
|
Somali Community Association Of Ohio
|
Immigrants and refugees, youth, individuals
with disabilities and seniors
|
$500,000
|
$600,000
|
|
Neighborhood Services Inc.
|
Seniors, individuals with disabilities and
immigrants and refugees
|
$280,000
|
$500,000
|
|
Our Helpers
|
Immigrants and refugees
|
$211,312
|
$500,000
|
|
Community Development For All People
|
People who are unemployed or have been
underemployed for an extended period of time
|
$335,000
|
$411,491
|
|
Total funding
|
|
|
$8,011,491
|
Funds awarded through the Stable Housing Initiative will
supplement City of Columbus rental assistance still available through Rentful (https://www.rentful614.com/)
###