Lafayette Consolidated Government (LCG) was allocated $7,287,290 by the U.S. Treasury for emergency rental and utility assistance in Lafayette Parish, including the smaller municipalities.
The funds can pay up to 12 months of arrears, as well as three months going forward. The U.S. Treasury is limiting eligibility to applicants that fall below 80% of Area Median Income (AMI), and it is limited to rental households (no mortgage assistance), according to a spokesperson for LCG. Payments will be delivered directly to landlords/ utility providers.
LCG has until September 31, 2021, to dedicate these funds to households, and has until December 31, 2021 to make payments.
In order to disseminate these funds efficiently, LCG is partnering with SMILE Community Action Agency and Catholic Charities of Acadiana. These two organizations have existing rental/utility assistance programs in place, they have prior experience with handling federal grants, and they have the ability to immediately begin processing applications once contracts are in place, which is estimated to be three to six weeks.
Both organizations and LCG will hire additional staff to process the large volume of applications and payments, the spokesperson stated.
LCG is also working to identify and partner with additional organizations to assist with marketing, community outreach, and technical assistance to renters during their application processes.
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