An urgent message for anyone applying for rental assistance.
"We are announcing a deadline to submit an application for the statewide rent help program," said Housing Commissioner, Jen Ho. "This is the first time since we began the program last April, there has been any deadline tied to applying for assistance."
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RentHelpMN has made more than 77,350 payments, helping more than 46,000 households catch up on their housing costs, according to a news release.
The program which helps those who have fallen behind on their rent, also covers utility costs such as; water, sewer, trash and electric. So far, RentHelpMN has paid over $350 million in housing costs for Minnesotans who may have lost a job due to COVID-19. Minnesota Housing and Finance Agency predicts the program will distribute $450 million in total.
The program which helps those who have fallen behind on their rent, also covers utility costs such as; water, sewer, trash and electric. So far, RentHelpMN has paid over $350 million in housing costs for Minnesotans who may have lost a job due to COVID-19. Minnesota Housing and Finance Agency predicts the program will distribute $450 million in total.
The Agency says it received the most applications since it's inception this month. Asked why that may be, Commissioner Ho speculated saying, "it might just be the costs of Christmas, and high heating bills this year. We have inflation, we have the loss of the child care tax credit check, that so many families were getting. So there's a lot of factors in play."
Commissioner Ho speculated why that may be saying, "it might just be the costs of Christmas and high heating bills this year. We have inflation, we have the loss of the child care tax credit check, that so many families were getting. So there's a lot of factors in play."
She adds, "and then there's Omicron. People are still missing work, because, their kids got sent home, or somebody in the family got sick. So there's just a lot going on."
Another issue is funding. The MFHA's news release says the state reduced the number of future months of rent paid in an effort to conserve funds. Ho says she has requested more funding from the Treasury. However, she doesn't expect further federal funding to keep it going.
The Agency is asking all applicants to submit their applications by Friday, January 28 at 9:00 p.m.
"(I'm) painfully aware of the fact that this federal investment, really has filled a significant need for Minnesotans, during this second year of the pandemic," Ho said. "But my heart is heavy today, just seeing the demand in January."
