Emergency Rent Assistance Program Grant approved by Council

The Common Council at its meeting today (Tuesday, February 9) adopted file #201316 – a substitute resolution relating to the application, acceptance, and expenditure of the Emergency Rent Assistance Program Grant from the United States Treasury Department. The file, introduced by Common Council President Cavalier Johnson and unanimously sponsored by the entire Common Council, will provide $17.64 million in funding to assist households that are unable to pay rent and utilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic and will operate through December 31, 2021.  

“There are many Milwaukeeans who have continued to go to work day in and day out during this pandemic, but through no fault of their own have been struggling for months to pay their rent and other related costs,” said President Johnson. “We must ensure that those who are most vulnerable have the resources to maintain a stable housing situation, particularly at a time when we continue to urge everyone to stay home when at all possible to remain healthy due to the pandemic. I thank my colleagues for their unanimous support of this item.”

The Emergency Rental Assistance Program Grant provides funds for the payment of rent, rental arrears, utilities and home energy costs, and utility and home energy cost arrears on behalf of eligible households, as well as housing stability services, including case management and other services intended to keep households stably housed, and administrative costs. The program will be administered in partnership with the Social Development Commission.

President Johnson continued, “As we move forward through this pandemic, I call upon the federal government to pass the proposed $1.9 trillion COVID-19 stimulus package so everyday people can continue to get the support they need.”

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.