The state launches a new program to provide financial assistance to both tenants and landlords experiencing financial hardship from the pandemic. Executive Director of the Louisiana Housing Corporation Keith Cunningham said $161 million has been allocated for 57 parishes.
“What our effort is, is preventing people from being homeless and provide the necessary assistance to those landlords who’ve been carrying this burden as we all have been dealing with COVID,” said Cunningham.
Parishes with populations over 200,000 will receive funding directly from the US. Treasury for aid, so now both urban and rural areas of the state are covered.
LHC in partnership with the Louisiana Office of Community Development will administer the program.
Cunningham said the primary focus is to pay rental arrears.
“Meaning those landlords who have been holding that burden of that tenant, we want to make sure that those individuals are paid, up to as far back as April,” said Cunningham.
The program also then gives eligible tenants up to three months for future rental assistance.
Cunningham said the eviction moratorium was necessary during the pandemic, but it transferred the financial burden to landlords and this program offers them relief.
Priority is given to households where at least one member has been unemployed for more than 90 days due to COVID…
“Households earning less than 50 percent Area Median Income, as the law requires, but we’re also making sure that individuals who tried to participate to get rental assistance from us in the past are considered,” said Cunningham.
For more information visit LAStateRent.com.
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