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Renters urged to use CARES

Blair County residents with overdue rent because of lost income and the coronavirus pandemic are being urged to consider the CARES Act Rental Relief Program offered through local agencies, with assistance from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency.

Blair County Community Action has been designated as the local agency to administer funds, according to the county’s human services office. If eligible, renters can qualify for as much as $750 a month for a maximum of six months. The money is paid directly to landlords through the program.

Applications and more information are available on Community Action’s webpage at www.blaircap.org/phfa-rental-relief-program/.

On behalf of the county commissioners board, Chairman Bruce Erb is advising any resident worried about the loss of housing to contact the Community Action Agency, 2100 Sixth Ave., to see if they qualify for rent payment assistance through this or any other program.

“Preventing homelessness and providing access to safe and secure housing is one of our key objectives,” Erb stated in a news release.

For renters to be eligible for help under the CARES Rent Relief Program, they will need to document at least a 30% cut in annual income since March 1, related to COVID-19, or they must have become unemployed after March 1.

If unemployed, they must have filed for unemployment compensation with the state Department of Labor and Industry. Household income cannot exceed the area median income, based on household size.

Sergio Carmona, executive director of Blair County Community Action, said Friday that the agency has received about 150 applications so far for the CARES Act Rental Relief Program and is working with applicants to gather required documents.

The deadline for CARES Act Rental Relief Program is Sept. 30. Carmona said that those interested should apply soon, so there is time to collect documents in support of the application and because money for this program is offered on a first come, first served basis.

“If someone doesn’t qualify for help through this program, they should still contact us if they’re having trouble paying their rent,” Carmona said. “There may be assistance through another program to avoid evictions.”

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