Rent aid program will launch August 24 in Thurston County
Thurston County has been allotted $3.18 million from the state Department of Commerce for rent aid as part of the Eviction Rent Assistance Program (ERAP). That money comes from federal CARES Act funds that Gov. Inslee set aside in late June.
That rent assistance program will launch on Aug. 24, the county announced Wednesday.
On Tuesday, the Thurston County Board of Commissioners approved a contract that allows Community Action Council to accepting applications for that assistance. Applications will be accepted over the phone by Community Action Council.
The $2.6 million will be paid directly to landlords, according to Kirsten York, Director of Family Services at Community Action Council.
As part of the Commerce Department’s equity guidelines, CAC will partner with nine other “By and For” organizations to distribute the aid.
“By and For” means organizations that are operated and directed “by and for” people from the marginalized communities they serve. These organizations have not yet been announced.
Who can apply?
The funds are targeted toward those at highest risk of becoming homeless if evicted.
To be eligible, you must make 50% or less than the area’s median income and have missed at least one rent payment since March.
Someone in the household must meet one of six possible housing insecurity criteria. This could mean being “rent burdened” (paying over half your income in rent), having been evicted or experienced housing discrimination or homelessness in the past, having a disability, or being at severe risk for contracting COVID-19.
If you have questions about the program, you can contact Community Action Council at 360-438-1100 or by email at ERAP@caclmt.org
A separate program that will distribute $360,000 in rent aid from the state Office of Homeless Youth will be administered by Community Youth Services (CYS). That program will be open to youth ages 18-24. It will have a separate application process that should roll out by the end of the month, according to CYS CEO Derek Harris.
This story was originally published August 12, 2020 at 2:13 PM.
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