REMINDER: Montgomery County Pausing New Applications for Federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program Dec. 31 at 5 p.m.; Residents Can Still Apply for Emergency Financial Support and Resources for Eviction or Utility Shutoffs

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, December 29, 2021

The Montgomery County government is reminding residents that the COVID Rent Relief Program (funded by Treasury Emergency Rental Assistance funds) application portal will pause from taking new applications at 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 31. Applications submitted before the deadline will be reviewed and processed, but no additional applications will be received after that time. An additional round of rent-relief funding, with an updated application process and eligibility criteria will be announced in early 2022. To submit a rent relief application, please go to www.mc311.com/rentrelief.

“It is important that we get the word out to those who are still needing rental assistance,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “We have given out $49.7 million of the $59.5 million dollars we were allocated, or 83.5 percent, from the nearly 11,000 applications for rental relief that we have received thus far. With applications continuing to be processed, we expect to exhaust our funds from the current application pool and those who submit their applications by Dec. 31. As we prepare to launch the next round of assistance, we want to assure the public that we are not stopping or ending providing rental relief to our residents. In fact, Montgomery County’s [Health and Human Services] rental relief operations has been one of the most robust in the nation in terms of processing and distributing these funds. For residents going through eviction, utility cutoffs, and the loss of other resources, we will continue to serve and assist them. I want to encourage anyone who is needing assistance during these challenging times to call 311 so we can help.”

The County Government is urging anyone who needs rental relief to get their applications in this week before the pause of this system takes effect so their application can be processed with this current tranche of monies. However, any resident that needs emergency assistance should continue to contact HHS for support even after Dec. 31. Individuals and families who are going through eviction, need assistance to prevent utility shutoffs, moving/storage support, burial assistance and/or security deposit/1st month’s rent will still continue to receive relief. Montgomery County also wants to remind any residents who receive a judgement from the Court, red/white notice from the Sheriff, or utility disconnect notice to please call 311 Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. or visit www.mc311.com/rentrelief to access resources to avoid evictions or shutoffs.

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Release ID: 21-1026
Media Contact: Barry Hudson 240-300-7348
Categories: Housing