Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By TOM LAVENTURE
Bessemer — A program that is designed to keep Michigan residents who fell behind on their rent and utilities during the COVID-19 pandemic in their homes started March 15, and will run through the end of the year, according to Gogebic-Ontonagon Community Action Agency..
The state of Michigan COVID-9 Emergency Rental Assistance program is a collaborative community process to expedite rental and utility assistance to affected tenants and their landlords, said Rochelle Clemens-Ludtke, the GOCAA housing coordinator. There is funding for renters between now and Dec. 30, but homeowners do not qualify, she said.
“The assistance available includes rental arrearages and utility arrearages including internet,” she said. “There does not need to be rental arrearages in order to receive assistance for utilities.”
To be eligible the tenant’s household income must be no more than 80% of the area median income, she said. One or more individuals in the household must currently or at some point after March 13, 2020, have been qualified for unemployment benefits, experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs or experienced other financial hardship due directly or indirectly to the corona virus outbreak. College students are eligible if their name is on the lease.
“The household can demonstrate a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability, which may include a past due utility notice or past due rent notice,” Clemens-Ludtke said. “This may include a ledger showing rent arrears, a notice to quit, or an eviction notice.”
Applicants may qualify for assistance with utility, energy or internet costs without receiving rental assistance, she said. Landlords may apply on behalf of eligible tenants who cosign and provide information in support of the application and allow payments to satisfy rental obligations for amounts due after March 13, 2020.
State Emergency Relief applications are not required to qualify for the rental assistance program, she said. The emergency relief applications are encouraged for households below 50% of area median income and have rental arrearages that exceed program limits.
The assistance process starts with the Housing Assessment and Resource Agency, she said. A referral may also be made through legal aid or a court, where any information from an evaluation for legal services would be included with the rental assistance program.
“Tenants without court cases may still be evaluated for legal services if the HARA believes there are any significant repair issues with the housing, or disagreements between tenant and landlord about terms of the lease or amount owed,” Clemens-Ludtke said. “This should be relayed to the tenant as part of the assistance process.”
For more information, contact the GOCAA housing office at 906-667-0283 ext 18 or ext 30.
