Blair gets aid for rent, utilities

County receives $8.01 million to help residents affected by COVID-19 fallout

HOLLIDAYSBURG -- Blair County has received $8.01 million from the state Department of Human Services to help cover rent and utility bills for county residents affected by COVID-19.

Commissioners voted Tuesday in favor of naming Blair County Community Action as the designated agency to take applications from tenants and landlords and to determine if they're eligible for assistance under the Emergency Rental Assistance Program.

The county's money comes from a federal allocation that state lawmakers, in early February, assigned to the state Department of Human Services to administer.

"That's a significant sum of money," Commissioners Chairman Bruce Erb said Tuesday when commissioners reviewed the pending allocation.

Community Action Executive Director Sergio Carmona said he couldn't offer an assessment as to how much help Blair County residents will seek, but significant requests have been reported in other counties.

"In my own personal assessment, I think we will need to provide more assistance with utilities than actual rent," Carmona said. "In the first round of rental assistance, we were only allowed to provide rental assistance. So for those people who are struggling with their utilities, there hasn't been a lot (of help) out there."

Information about the rental assistance program qualifications and an application are posted on Blair County Community Action's website at www.blaircap.org.

The agency is also providing applications at its office, 2301 Beale Ave., between

8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Those in need of staff help to complete an application should phone 814-946-3651.

To be eligible for help, the household income must be at or below 80 percent of the Blair County area median income. That means a one-person household could have an annual income of $36,350 and qualify for help. For a two-person household, the income must be less than $41,550 annually.

Applicants will need to provide proof of income and verification in support of their request.

Information posted on the agency's website indicates that utility bills for electricity, gas, water/sewage, trash and heat sources can be covered through the rental assistance program. Telecommunication services, such as cellphone, telephone, cable and internet services are ineligible.