FRANKFORT, Ky. (KT) – Gov. Andy Beshear introduced on Monday that as much as $38 million is on the market to native governments to assist Kentuckians with overdue utility payments of their jurisdiction.
Every native authorities could request as much as $200,000 for help of their communities, in a program being administered by the Division for Native Authorities, with funding from the Neighborhood Improvement Block Grant Coronavirus Response program of the U.S. Division of Housing and City Improvement.
“Even with our victory over COVID-19 coming into sight, occasions are nonetheless powerful for our households,” mentioned Gov. Beshear. “We’re grateful to have the ability to present these funds, as a result of they’ll guarantee many Kentuckians received’t should make the unattainable alternative between feeding their household and maintaining the lights on.”
Native governments should apply to DLG to qualify. If accredited, they have to then accomplice with a group motion company to help with funding administration. To simplify the method and fulfill that want, DLG has partnered with Kentucky’s 15 Space Improvement Districts to help native governments, native nonprofit group service suppliers and eligible Kentuckians with their functions and administering funds.
Households are eligible for as much as $250 per thirty days for six consecutive months if:
–They reside in a metropolis or county accredited for funding.
–Have been financially impacted by COVID-19.
–Are struggling to pay water, sewer, electrical, gasoline or different heating and cooling payments.
–And have obtained a disconnection discover between January 21, 2020, and current day and/or as much as two months following.
As soon as a family’s software is accredited, the native nonprofit group service supplier will switch funds on to a utility supplier on their behalf.
“We wish to get this help out the door as shortly as potential, as a result of defending Kentuckians is our primary precedence,” mentioned DLG Commissioner Dennis Keene. “We encourage native governments to submit functions as shortly as potential.”
Native governments can apply for CDBG-CV funds now by finishing the appliance on DLG’s web site.
Kentuckians ought to contact their native authorities for extra data.
This help follows a earlier fund arrange by Gov. Beshear in October 2020. He created the Crew Kentucky Wholesome at House Utility Aid Fund by dedicating $15 million of federal CARES Act funding, which is estimated to have helped over 63,000 people in additional than 26,000 households via December of final yr.
One other spherical of utility aid is forthcoming, as Congress handed the Omnibus Appropriations and Coronavirus Aid Bundle, often called CAA, which was signed into legislation Dec. 27. It’s anticipated to offer almost $297 million to Kentuckians to guard tenants from evictions and utility disconnections, via the Crew Kentucky Wholesome at House Eviction and Utility Aid Fund. Extra data on this program might be coming throughout the subsequent few weeks.
