Rent, heating bills help: $4.1 million coming to Buncombe for emergency assistance
More than $4.1 million in state grant funding is headed to Buncombe County government to help residents pay rent and heating bills in the coming months.
Though Buncombe County Board of Commissioners weren't able to meet Jan. 18 because of weather and COVID-19 precautions, they're set in a coming meeting to vote on a measure accepting almost $2.3 million from the state for emergency rental assistance.
Though this is a program Buncombe has been working with for years, the people who help run it say it might be more important in 2022 than ever before.
"I've worked in social services 34 years," Economic Services Division Director Phillip Hardin told the Citizen Times Jan. 18. "I don't remember having this kind of money to deal with housing issues like we have right now. So many people are behind in their rent, and we've caught them up. And we can pay forward, too. So, we're sustaining a lot of people."
Related: Final numbers: 1,200 homeowners get grant approval; governments pay nearly half a million
According to a resolution commissioners will vote on, $114,263 of that amount will go toward government administration, the staff needed to help allocate the money.
The rest will go toward up to12 months of rental assistance for residents, the application deadline for which will be Sept. 30.
Buncombe already has provided $7.8 million in rental and mortgage assistance to nearly 3,000 people since the onset of COVID-19 as part of its local emergency rental assistance program, according to data from Jan. 11.
The most recent bout of this program was promoted in May.
At that point, households had to meet the following eligibility requirements to get rental assistance:
The applicant/household lost income due to COVID-19.
There is a sustainability plan to pay shelter expenses going forward after the County assists with past due bills.
Income limit of 200% of the federal poverty level ($52,400) for a family of four.
Those interested in this program can call 828-250-5500 and ask to apply for rental assistance.
More: Buncombe County budget retreat: Affordable housing top priority for coming year
The rental assistance program is one of a few in the works at Buncombe to help household with basic needs.
Commissioners also are set to vote on a seasonal program that will see almost $1.9 million distributed to Buncombe for heating bills.
This money is distributed through Eblen Charities and is made up of both regular federal funding and American Rescue Plan Act money from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
According to a presentation memo commissioners will hear in the near future, automatically authorized payments will be generated based on the households' primary heating source.
Depending on those sources, households could receive $300 for wood, $400 for gas and $500 for electric.
This payout program also is pending a commission approval vote, but is already active for many starting Jan. 1.
Households that received low income energy assistance (LIEAP), are on food stamps and have children aged 10 and younger during 2020-21 will automatically get energy checks without having to apply.
Those interested in applying can do so by calling Eblen Charities at 828-255-3066 or apply online at epass.nc.gov.
Related: Buncombe commission votes for $450K federal program to prevent water cutoffs during COVID
Andrew Jones is Buncombe County government and health care reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow or reach him at @arjonesreports on Facebook and Twitter. Email him at arjones@citizentimes.com.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: $4.1 million in rental, heating assistance headed to Buncombe
