The 2021 Home Relief Grant, which offers up to $100 million in rent and utility assistance for renters, has been released by the Ohio Development Services Agency.
The state of Ohio has allocated $100 million from the Federal Consolidated Appropriations Act to help Ohioans with rent and utility payments. The Ohio Development Services Agency is distributing the funding among Ohio’s 47 Community Action Agencies, and Ohioans may contact their local Community Action Agency for assistance.
Ohioans may receive assistance to pay their rent, water, sewer, wastewater, electric, gas, oil and/or trash removal bills. This funding is targeted to help low-income Ohioans who do not own their home (all assistance through this program is only available to renters).
Assistance may be applied to outstanding balances dating back to March 13, 2020, and Ohioans may receive assistance for future rent/utility payments once back bills have been made current. Ohioans may receive assistance for future rent and utility assistance in three-month increments.
Community Action Agencies may provide continuing assistance to eligible Ohioans until December 31, 2021.
Eligible Ohio households must:
Be at or below 80% of their county’s Area Median Income; (varies by county and size of household)
Have experienced a financial hardship due to COVID-19; and
Demonstrate a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability.
The Community Action Agency can help Ohioans determine if they are income-eligible for this program or any other assistance. Agencies may also have funding available for mortgage assistance, but available funding will vary by agency.
Again, Ohioans can apply for assistance through their local Community Action Agency. A list of Community Action Agencies can be found at BusinessHelp.Ohio.Gov under Home Relief Grants or via this direct link https://oacaa.org/agency-directory/.