Rental and utility assistance program available for those unable to paydue to COVID-19

The Forsyth County Rent & UtilityRelief Program has been established to provide short-term assistance forrenters that can document income loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The fundingis made available through a grant from the U.S. Department of Treasury and willbe available beginning Monday, March 8.

Forsyth County will provide rent andutility assistance for qualifying households. Households meeting all of thefollowing criteria will be eligible for assistance:

-       Qualifiesfor unemployment benefits or has experienced a reduction in household income,incurred significant costs or experienced other financial hardship due directlyor indirectly to COVID-19; and

-       Demonstratesa risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability; and

-       Hasa household income at or below 80% of the area median income, with prioritygiven to 1) households below 50% of the AMI or 2) households with one or moreindividuals who have been unemployed 90 days or longer at the time ofapplication

The below chart details the householdincome requirements for eligibility.

To apply or get more information on the Rent& Utility Relief Program, eligible residents are encouraged to contact the followingorganizations directly beginning Monday, March 8:

-       United Way of Forsyth County (240 Elm St.)

o  Byphone: (770)781-4110

o  Byemail: erap@unitedwayforsyth.com

-       The Place of Forsyth County, Inc (2550 The Place Circle)

o  Byphone: (770) 887-1098

o  Byemail: Info@theplaceofforsyth.org

Additionally, a Forsyth County call centerwill also available, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays, by calling (678)273-2972 to connect residents to partner organizations for applicationprocessing and to provide additional information in the following languages:

-       SimpleChinese

-       Spanish

-       Korean

-       Hindi

Information on the program in English,Simple Chinese, Spanish, Korean and Hindi can be found atforsythco.com/rentrelief, or by clickinghere.

“We strongly encourage those that are inneed of assistance of paying their rent or utilities during the pandemic toreach out through this program,” said Forsyth County Manager Kevin Tanner.

A total of $7.35M in grant funds foreligible Forsyth County residents is made possible through the U.S. Treasury’s CoronavirusAid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act and the Coronavirus Response andRelief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021.