NH seeks more funding for rental assistance - WMUR Manchester

$20 MILLION CAN BE ADDED THIS WINTER. THE EMERGENCY RELIEF RECOVERY OFFICE SAYS ON ANY GIVEN WEEK IT’S HELPING ROUGHLY 2 TO 3000 PEOPLE. THE BULK OF THAT FUNDING COMES FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, WHICH WILL RUN IN NEW HAMPSHIRE AT THE END OF THE YEAR. BUT NOW A NEW PROPOSAL TO SPEND 20 MILLION MORE TO EXTEND THE PROGRAM THROUGH WINTER FOR THOSE LIVING IN HOTELS, MOTELS. THIS IS POPULATION THAT IS PROPOSED AND THE SITUATION IS OBVIOUSLY ON. BUT THE $20 MILLION WOULD PAY FOR ROOMS FOR INDIVIDUALS, COUPLES THROUGH APRIL AND FOR FAMILIES THROUGH JUNE. THE OFFICE SAYS IT’S LOOKING TO SET A LOOSE CAP OF $200 A NIGHT FOR THE COST OF THE ROOM. IT ALSO ASKED FOR $3 MILLION FOR NEW HAMPSHIRE HOUSING AND THE FIVE STATE COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCIES TO WORK WITH THOSE IN THE PROGRAM TO FIND PERMANENT HOUSING AND OTHER RESOURCES LIKE FUEL AND ENERGY ASSISTANCE. WE’RE COMBINING AND LEVERAGING ALL THOSE RESOURCES IN A WAY, TO TO PUT PEOPLE IN THE BEST SITUATION POSSIBLY CAN. THE STATE HAS ASKED THE U.S. TREASURY DEPARTMENT FOR $100 MILLION FOR MORE RENTAL ASSISTANCE. BUT SO FAR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS PLEDGED 4 MILLION. ON AVERAGE, THE PROGRAM RUNS 5 MILLION A WEEK. BUT THIS STUFF IS REALLY IS IT GIVES US MUCH MORE OF A CUSHION IN THAT TIME PERIOD. NOW, TODAY, THE COMMITTEE DID APPROVE THE FUNDING, BUT THIS WAS JUST THE FIRST STEP. FURTHER APPROVAL IS NEEDED BEFORE ANYONE IN THE PROGRAM IS GUARANTEED HELP