FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 8, 2022

Wayne County Emergency Rental Assistance Program to close on November 15

Program assisted more than 4,500 Wayne County residents

Wayne County's Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) will close its application portal on Tuesday, November 15, 2022, after more than a year of helping thousands of Wayne County residents. ERAP was launched in September 2021, in the middle of the pandemic after receiving an allocation of $32 million for rental assistance from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

"The economic impact of COVID-19 has had a severe effect on many of our residents; disproportionately impacting renter households. Losing your home is one of the most devastating things that can happen to a family, and we wanted to prevent that for as many of our residents as we could," said Wayne County Executive Warren C. Evans. "As the entire country continues to recover, I'm proud of the hundreds of at-risk families we were able to help with ERAP. Naturally, I wish we could have done even more, but at least we were able to make life easier for many."

Throughout its duration, ERAP aided with rental and utility arrears, relocation costs (security deposit assistance), and utility assistance. The program received over 20,000 tenant applications. More than $13 million in rental and utility assistance was provided to tenants. The following is a more detailed breakdown of how the funds were used:

o More than 4,500 Wayne County residents (and counting) were served

o Approximately 70% of those assisted were Black/African American

o Approximately 70 % of those assisted were female, 30% male

o Over $1.2 million in rental arrears were paid directly to landlords

o Over $500,000 was spent in payment of utility arrears

o $1.5 million was spent for rental assistance, $259,000 for utility assistance, and $2.1 million for refugee hoteling

o $4 million partnership with Wayne Metro Community Action Agency was created to provide eligible aid to other vulnerable populations not served by ERAP

§ An additional 1,000+ Wayne County residents were served via this partnership

· Approximately 84% of those assisted were Black/African American

· Approximately 70% of those assisted were female, 30% male

For more information, visit our website at: www.waynecounty.com/rentalassistance

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