Baltimore County has launched a program to provide rental assistance to county residents who are in danger of being evicted after a moratorium on tenant evictions is lifted.
Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. today announced that the county will distribute $1 million in federal funding to households in need of rental assistance.
“We are here to support families that are struggling financially as a result of this pandemic,” Olszewski said in a statement. “This initiative will help families avoid homelessness and provide a bridge while they get back on their feet. This is just a first step, but an important one – and Baltimore County will continue to look for ways to provide resources that help our families weather this storm.”
Residents can begin applying today on the county’s website and must submit an application by 5 p.m. on Friday to be considered.
County officials will review applications on a first-come first-served basis.
To qualify for the program, an applicant must be a Baltimore County resident with a valid lease agreement, be at risk of eviction from rental housing after losing income due to COVID-19, meet income criteria based on their household size, and have applied for unemployment insurance or be able to show their ineligibility for unemployment insurance.
County officials estimate that the rental assistance will pay for an average of two months of rent for each selected household.
The county is funding the program through its allocation of federal Coronavirus Relief Funds and Emergency Assistance to Families with Children through the Department of Social Services.
The county is also partnering with the Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition’s Fair Housing Action Center (FHAC) to provide financial counseling, referrals to legal assistance and other supportive services, and renters’ tax credit applications and assistance.
“We are excited to embark on this new partnership with Baltimore County, as it expands and deepens the work FHAC has been doing successfully for the benefit of Maryland residents and comes at a critical time to provide additional support for Baltimore County residents,” said Marceline White, executive director of the Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition.
Baltimore City Mayor Bernard C. “Jack” Young last month committed $13 million in federal grant funds to establish a temporary rental assistance program for Baltimore City tenants.
