Atlanta, GA, March 5, 2021: The Forsyth County Rent & Utility Relief Program has been established to provide short-term assistance for renters that can document income loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding is made available through a grant from the U.S. Department of Treasury and will be available beginning Monday, March 8, according to a press release issued by the Forsyth County Department of Communications.
Forsyth County will provide rent and utility assistance for qualifying households. Households meeting all of the following criteria will be eligible for assistance:
-Qualifies for unemployment benefits or has experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs or experienced other financial hardship due directly or indirectly to COVID-19; and
-Demonstrates a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability; and
-Has a household income at or below 80% of the area median income, with priority given to 1) households below 50% of the AMI or 2) households with one or more individuals who have been unemployed 90 days or longer at the time of application
The below chart details the household income requirements for eligibility.
To apply or get more information on the Rent & Utility Relief Program, eligible residents are encouraged to contact the following organizations directly beginning Monday, March 8:
– United Way of Forsyth County (240 Elm St.)
o By phone: (770) 781-4110
o By email: erap@unitedwayforsyth.com
– The Place of Forsyth County, Inc (2550 The Place Circle)
o By phone: (770) 887-1098
o By email: Info@theplaceofforsyth.org
Additionally, a Forsyth County call center will also available, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays, by calling (678) 273-2972 to connect residents to partner organizations for application processing and to provide additional information in the following languages:
– Spanish
– Korean
– Hindi
“We strongly encourage those that are in need of assistance of paying their rent or utilities during the pandemic to reach out through this program,” said Forsyth County Manager Kevin Tanner.
A total of $7.35M in grant funds for eligible Forsyth County residents is made possible through the U.S. Treasury’s Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act and the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021.
