SLC & county leaders urge Utahns to take advantage of available rent help

Utahns that have had trouble paying their rent have been offered help by local governments with funds from the federal CARES Act. But many have not taken advantage of the programs, according Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson and other city and county officials. The availability of funds expires on Dec. 31.

“The good news is there is relief. The bad news is we have not seen an extension of CARES Act dollars,” Wilson told reporters recently. “Just like Cinderella had to leave the ball, this community, unfortunately, has a limit for the use of CARES Act dollars.” Wilson joined other elected and community leaders recently in urging Utahns to apply for the help as soon as possible, regardless of their immigration status or how much money they were making before the onset of the pandemic.

Many who seek help from Comunidades Unidas, a nonprofit serving Utah’s Latinos, have worried they will need to repay the money or that it will prevent them from obtaining lawful permanent resident status, said the organization’s executive director, Mayra Cedano. “We’re having to do a lot of education in terms of trying to minimize the fear in our communities,” Cedano told KSL Radio.

Through the end of September, the state has paid out $2.1 million in federal coronavirus relief money to help Utahns cover rent, meting out an average of $1,327 in each check, according to figures provided by the Department of Workforce Services (DWS). 

A program that lets landlords to receive federal money on behalf of delinquent renters has issued roughly $186,000, said Jonathan Hardy, director of the Housing and Community Development Division with DWS. That means the vast majority of the $20 million that state lawmakers set aside for rent assistance remains untapped.

“Some people aren’t used to asking for help but have been affected by COVID-19,” said Hardy. “We know this is an issue. The last thing we want to see is people owe thousands of dollars on their rent on Dec. 31 when we could have been helping them all along.”

Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall said the entire community fares better when those living on the edge can stay in their homes. “It has to do with everyone’s physical and mental well-being,” Mendenhall said. “It affects our economy directly. It affects our educational systems. It affects our city’s children.”

On Sept. 1, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention placed a hold on some evictions through year’s end. To qualify, renters must show they have sought rental assistance from the government, affirm they can’t pay due to COVID-19 hardships and that they’re likely to become homeless if evicted.