Grant Fund To Help Residents, Employees In Vienna

VIENNA, VA — Vienna Town Council approved an allocation of up to $105,000 in federal CARES Act funds to establish a grant program for assistance with housing and utility payments.

The program is designed to help Town of Vienna residents and employees at eligible businesses who are experiencing pandemic-related hardships. The Vienna CARES Fund will provide direct payments for housing expenses as well as gas and electric bills. The assistance will not need to be repaid by the recipients.

The town government is partnering with Fairfax County and the Committee for Helping Others to administer the fund.

"As the health crisis continues to linger, some families are finding it increasingly difficult to hold on financially," said Natalie Monkou, Vienna's economic development manager, in a statement. "The Town has been fortunate to have received CARES Act funding through Fairfax County that has helped us weather, to some degree, the financial impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, and we want to share what we’ve received with those most in need and provide assistance to those who live and work in Vienna."

Recipients must earn no more than 60 percent of the area median income and must provide proof of income, mortgage or rental agreement, and utility billing. Employees at Town of Vienna businesses must live in Fairfax County and be employed by a Town of Vienna business with a valid business license.

Residents and employees of town businesses who are interested in the assistance should contact Fairfax County Coordinated Services Planning at 703-222-0880 for eligibility screening. After screening, eligible individuals would be referred to the Committee for Helping Others for assistance.

This article originally appeared on the Vienna Patch