City of Charlotte Housing & Neighborhood Services 8/2020

Posted in: Madison Park
 

 
 
 

$8M for COVID-19 Emergency Housing Assistance

Charlotte City Council recently approved $8 million additional dollars of CARE’s Act Funding that will allow for expansion of the existing Rental and Mortgage Assistance Program (RAMP CLT). The expanded program will continue funding qualifying mortgage and rent payments.  The $8 million in Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding is now available for mortgage and rental assistance, in addition to the $2.2 million previously made available. The Housing Partnership will execute the program, in partnership with Socialserve.

Since April, 1,529 households have received $1.4 million in mortgage, rent, hotel, and utilities and upfront housing assistance due to COVID-19. This initial funding was limited to those living in City-supported properties, eligible to households earning 80 percent or below the Area Median Income (AMI), or $63,200 for a family of four, and facing a COVID-19 hardship including job loss, wage reduction, illness, or childcare challenges. With the infusion of CARES Act funding, the RAMP CLT program has expanded. Individuals who earn 80 percent or below the AMI who face a COVID-19 hardship and cannot make housing payments can apply for rent or mortgage assistance.

Those who are applying for mortgage assistance must have been current on their mortgage payments prior to April 2020. For rent assistance, payments are made directly to landlords and property managers, so in order to receive funding, landlords and property managers must register as part of the program. Financial assistance is also available for long-term hotel guests (30 days or longer) who are experiencing a financial hardship and cannot pay the hotel bill due to COVID-19.

A program representative will work one-on-one with all applicants to determine their eligibility for each of these programs. More information on these programs and applications for property managers, hotel managers, tenants and those seeking mortgage and rent relief are available at rampclt.comRampclt.com also provides information and resources for those facing eviction.

                              African American family sitting on their front porch with their dog, text underneath saying "Visit rampclt.com COVID-19 EMERGENCY HOUSING ASSISTANCE"


Mecklenburg County Offers Free COVID-19 Home Disinfecting Service for Seniors

Mecklenburg County’s Department of Social Services (DSS) has partnered with Bio-One to offer a free one-time COVID-19 professional disinfecting service to residents who are 60 years of age or older. Bio-One will apply a CDC/EPA-approved chemical to all surfaces, doorknobs, handles, light switches and high traffic areas of the home. The chemical is safe for pets and children.

Participants must be a resident of Mecklenburg County, 60 years of age or older, and able to leave their home for approximately three hours while services are rendered For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 980-314-6800 or email SFA-Events@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov. Appointment slots are limited. Services will be provided until funds are exhausted.

While there is no cleaning method that guarantees total elimination of the virus, Bio-One’s cleaning protocol can help reduce the spread and threat of coronavirus.


COVID-19 Small Business Resources

Central Piedmont Community College Small Business Rebound Program
The Small Business Rebound Program provides professional services grants to support business services provided by local area professionals — accountants, attorneys, digital marketing strategists, and human resources experts. Services from the grants are contracted and paid for by the Small Business Center.

Charlotte Business Resources: Big Events Small Business
Charlotte Business Resources offers a list of resources to help your small business respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and support the economic health and well-being of the Charlotte Business Community. Click here for more information.


COVID-19 Food Access

Thanks to the Federal “Farm to Family Food Box” program, Loaves & Fishes is distributing boxes of excess fresh produce and dairy at a series of pop up food shares this summer in partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina. Free fresh produce and dairy are available while supplies last, and registration is required. For a list of upcoming food shares and to register, click here.

Free food for those in need is also available at the following locations:

1. First Baptist Church West offers free grab and go lunch Monday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Please pick up a meal for yourself / neighbor, meals are delivered to your car. Please know your total number of meals that are needed when you arrive at the church.

2. Mt. Moriah Primitive Baptist Church (727 W. Trade Street) give out boxes of food every Wednesday and Thursday 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. The boxes include chicken, lunch meat, and canned goods.


COVID-19 Family Support

Family Partners works with families who are navigating the education, child welfare, mental health and juvenile justice systems. They help parents prepare for meetings with schools, service providers, and child & family teams. Additionally, they educate parents/caregivers to achieve successful outcomes including improving youth's ability to function at home, in school, and in their community. For more information and support, contact Barbara Baker at 980-406-1258 or Amy Dickey at 704-281-0493. 


Neighborhood Matching Grants Pre-Application Workshops

This August, join us to learn the ins and outs of your Neighborhood Matching Grants program. These pre-application workshops will help you think through project ideas, provide instruction for completing the online application, and tell what you to expect during the application and project implementation processes. Attendance at a workshop is required prior to applying for a grant. These workshops will take place via Zoom. To participate, please register here.


You Spoke, We Listened: Service Area Team Survey Results

Last month, the HNS Service Area Team distributed a survey to gain feedback and collect data from 482 neighborhood and organization leaders. We wanted to know how many people are receiving these emails, how they are using this information, and whether it's beneficial to their neighborhoods and organizations. We learned that nearly everyone (95 percent of respondents) forwards our communications to their own distribution lists! We send information on a wide range of topics, but five main areas stood out as most interesting to you, including COVID-19 resources, neighborhood matching grants information, employment opportunities, neighborhood trainings and food access information. We learned that areas we could improve include the need for additional resources/outreach to the elderly, expanding communications beyond email/internet, and distributing information with more advance notice. As our communication methods continue to evolve and improve, we will find ways to expand our reach and address the highlighted opportunities for improvement.

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