THE Office of Grants Management & State Clearinghouse or OGM on Wednesday announced that applications for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program will be available at the multi-purpose center Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, beginning at 2 p.m.
Applications will not be distributed in the morning.
The CNMI received $10.4 million for rental assistance and utility relief through the program, which is funded by the federal Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplement Appropriations Act.
OGM, under the Office of the Governor, is administering the program, which aims to reduce evictions and keep citizens in stable homes, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Roughly $400 million was made available to U.S. territories, with $9.6 million allocated to American Samoa, $33.6 million to Guam, $21.3 million to the U.S. Virgin Islands, and $325 million to Puerto Rico.
The allocated amount for the CNMI was based on its 2019-2020 population estimates.
Eligible households may receive up to 12 months of assistance, as well as an additional three months, depending on the household’s circumstances.
Payments to existing housing-related arrears dating as far back as March 13, 2020 will be prioritized before considering any future rental payments.
Once a household’s rental arrears are reduced, the Commonwealth may commit to providing future assistance for up to three months at a time.
Households may reapply for additional assistance at the end of the three-month period.
Rental assistance provided to an eligible household must not be duplicative of any other federally funded rental assistance provided to the household.
To be considered an eligible household, one or more individuals in the household must qualify for unemployment or have reduced household income, incurred significant costs, or experienced financial hardship due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
They must also demonstrate a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability, and have a household income at or below $19,201.
OGM Administrator Epi Cabrera on Monday said eligible residents should apply for the program, which is offered to U.S. citizens and qualified aliens, including long-term CNMI residents.
Pre-application forms are available for pickup at the San Vicente Youth Center, the Koblerville Youth Center, the Tanapag Youth Center, and the Kagman Community Center.
