Rent, Mortgage, & Utility Assistance Available: Commissioners Accept $900K in Federal Aid for COVID-19 Relief

More funding for those in need of pandemic-related assistance will soon be available. On Jan. 5, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved accepting $900,000 of federal funding via a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). This money will be used exclusively to help with financial hardships stemming directly from economic impacts of COVID-19. 

While assistance is not yet available as the County is awaiting specific guidance from the state’s Department of Commerce, the County’s Health and Human Services Department will distribute will handle distribution of the funds. This money can be used for emergency rent, mortgage, and utility payments including internet for those who have experienced a loss of income as a result of COVID-19. Priority will be given to those facing eviction or foreclosure. All payments will be made directly to the loan provider, landlord, or utility.

To be eligible you must be:

•             A resident of Buncombe County, except those living in Asheville city limits (the City has its own CDBG funding)

•             Able to demonstrate loss of income due to COVID-19

•             Demonstrate that your bills have not been paid by another organization

•             Be under 80% or the medium area income (AMI), which for a family of four is $57,300

The $900,000 will be distributed as such:

•             $824,070 for subsistence payments

•             $50,100 for activity delivery

•             $25,830 for grant administration

Once funding becomes available for eligible residents, the County will alert the media and post information on our website.