City of Pearland issued the following announcement.
In response to the unprecedented challenges created by COVID-19 for residents, the City of Pearland awarded a contract to MPact Strategic Consulting to launch and manage the City of Pearland Rental Assistance Program.
According to Joel Hardy, the City’s Grants Administrator, “With the passage of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, the City is able to commit a portion of Pearland’s CARES Act allocations to rental assistance for tenants with lease agreements within the Pearland city limits.”
The City of Pearland has set aside an initial $795,000 for rental assistance within the city limits that will be distributed to landlords of tenants with outstanding or unpaid rent due to a COVID-19 economic impact, starting late October or early November.
Under this program, two months of outstanding back rent can be covered at a maximum of $1,500 per month. Outstanding utilities can also be covered with this assistance program, and is not limited to renters, but the primary objective of the initiative is to cover rent payments for Pearland residents that have experienced job losses or reduced employment.
“We recognize the seriousness of the COVID-19 virus and the impact that it is having on the rental market,” stated Assistant City Manager Ron Fraser. “These resources are designed to help in ways other relief funds may have not been able to.”
Applications for the City of Pearland Rental Assistance Program must be submitted online at pearlandtx.gov/COVID-rental-assistance starting October 19, 2020 at 9:00 AM CST. While there is no deadline to apply at this time, CARES Act funding must be spent prior to December 30, 2020 and the City does not anticipate being able to cover unmet needs beyond that time with Coronavirus Relief Funds.
According to MPact CEO Spurgeon Robinson, “Renters in Pearland will easily be able to apply for assistance online and provide all of the information necessary for assistance without having to mail or physically hand over documentation to participate in the program.” For those without internet access or that have limited online capabilities, case workers are available to accept the necessary paperwork in person. However, due to COVID-19, registering and applying for assistance online is highly recommended.
Funds will be distributed on a first-come, first-served, basis. However, the program is also designed to ensure the most vulnerable households with unmet needs are prioritized. Qualifications include but are not limited to:
- Must have a valid, verifiable loss or reduction in employment or other negative economic impact due to COVID-19;
- Must reside within a rental unit located within the Pearland city limits; and
- Must have a valid lease agreement with a valid residential landlord.
About MPact Strategic Consulting
MPact Strategic Consulting is a full-service, collaborative business advisory firm that specializes in transportation and mobility, labor and workforce development, as well as disaster recovery and emergency management, delivering expertise and innovation to multiple industries. MPact has a national presence that spans from New York to California, which also includes Texas, Florida, Louisiana and Puerto Rico. For more information, visit www.mpact-consulting.com.
Original source can be found here.
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