Richmond County awarded $810K to help residents pay rent, utilities

ROCKINGHAM— Richmond County -Community Development Block Grant-Coronavirus grant funding in the amount of $810,000 will soon be available to help curb housing evictions and utility disconnections. 

NC Commerce’s Rural Economic Development Division will administer the Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus funds awarded to the state by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to support North Carolina’s COVID-19 response efforts. 

Richmond County was awarded funding towards public service with priorities designated as being the prevention of evictions and utility disconnections and has named this program the Richmond Assist Program. The purpose of the program is to provide financial assistance to those families of low to moderate income (see chart) who are behind on rent and utility costs with the goal of keeping Richmond County families healthy and reduce the spread of COVID.  

The Richmond Assist Program managed through Richmond County Human Services will provide emergency payments directly to vendors or landlords for the purpose of preventing homelessness (rent or mortgage) and utility service disconnections (water, power, gas, etc.).

The maximum one-time allotment per household is up to $1000 until funds are exhausted.  This funding will help Richmond County reduce the spread of COVID-19 by assisting its residents to stay in their homes, safe, and social-distanced.  

The program will open on Sept. 1, 2021 and more information on application process and requirements is available on the following link: Richmond Assist Program | Richmond County, NC – Official Website (richmondnc.com). 

Applicants will not need to apply in person as the initial application can be printed from the above link or picked up at Richmond County Department of Social Services entrance, the area utility companies, or other Richmond County agencies to be dropped off in the Red Mailbox in front of the DSS entrance. Those with disabilities and need help filling out the application, please call 91-997-8410 and leave a message. The call will be returned in 24-48 hours in the order it was received.