$100 million in rental assistance distributed to Washington counties
More rental assistance is on the way for Washingtonians in need during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Washington State Department of Commerce is doling out nearly $100 million in Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding to existing nonprofit organizations. The program focuses on preventing evictions by paying up to three months past due, current and future rent to landlords for eligible participants.
Gov. Jay Inslee’s office is provided the funding, which passes the funds through to the Department of Commerce, which then passes the funds primarily through county governments. The county then contracts with organizations that likely have a history of providing rent assistance, said Ted Kelleher, with the Department of Commerce.
"I get calls, at least one an hour, from a person who is in a critical situation," Kelleher said. "Everyone is working as fast as they can, faster than it's ever happened before. There is the eviction moratorium through October, so there is a little bit of space there, but it's not to undersell the fact that people really need their rent assistance right away."
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/100-million-in-rental-assistance-distributed-to-washington-counties/ar-BB18E2t2?ocid=hplocalnews