Some parts of the pandemic are looking up
as the state eases more restrictions and
businesses can welcome in more customers,
but families many are still
struggling to make ends meet.
The good news is there is help out there
for families fighting to pay rent and
we're here to answer your questions about
how to get that help on to wants to know.
So we want to let you know that nearly
700 people have applied for rental
assistance in Guilford County alone.
The city of Greensboro's application process.
It went live just.
This week, which is why we have our
two experts here today, Randall Hoover,
with the Guilford County Department of
Health and Human Services, is here,
as well as Caitlin Bowers City of
Greensboro's grant administrators.
So they're joining us to answer your
questions about these two programs.
To get your question in front
of these two experts,
this is what you need to do.
You need to text the question 336-379-5775
and again, this is text only,
so please do not call that number.
It is a text only number.
Alright first and foremost we have
our two experts here, one from Greensboro,
one from Guilford County.
And we want to make it really clear you
either apply to the City of Greensboro
program because you live in the city limits,
or you apply to the Guilford County
program because you live in the County
you do not live in the city limits.
You can only apply for one.
Caitlin,
you guys went live this week.
Where are glad to hear it.
Tell us how do we apply an
in what documents do we need?
Yes, you can apply online.
We have an encrypted portal.
That information can be found at
www.greensboro-nc.gov/covid housing
assistance and that application
portal is available for tenants
or landlords to apply on behalf
of their tenant and documentation.
Yes, the documentation that would
be required from the tenant
is proof of residency.
A copy of the lease and or your
utility bills to show how much
you owe as well as the household
income verification such as pay
stubs or some way to certify the
income of the household OK and so
just very quickly when it comes
to the city of Greensboro.
This is rent and utilities assistance.
Yes yes, OK. And then what has to happen?
Do they have to be behind on
their rent or utilities to apply?
No, you do not have to be
behind in order to apply. OK,
so Randall, we're going to get back
to Greensboro in just a second,
but I want to make sure that we're
getting the Guilford County folks as well.
You guys have been up and running
for a couple of weeks now,
so give us kind of a rundown
on the numbers and the money.
We've received since February
eight 675 applications thus far.
We processed about 560 of those
applications and we've expanded
just over $880,000 thus far
on rent and utilities, right?
And when people since you
guys have had a couple
of weeks under your belt here when
people apply for assistance, what is
the turn around time so they'll know?
Well, we of course we are processing
as quickly as we possibly can.
It depends on what we receive
with the application,
so it's very important to to have
your documentation submitted with
the application with school and
of course speed up the process.
OK, and so Caitlin. Let's also go over.
You said that you could do it on line.
Can you also make a phone call
an is there a way that you can
like bring your papers in person?
What needs to happen with that?
Yes, you can also call 336-763-6410
to ask any programmatic questions,
whether that be clarification on the needs
of your household or how to apply through
the application portal step by step.
You can also have a paper application,
either Mail it or bring it into the
Salvation Army location on Eugene St.
OK, and we're going to put
all of this in our web store.
We've got a web story up right now in the
two wants to know section that has links.
To both Guilford County and also the
city of Greensboro, along with the
phone numbers that were mentioned there.
That way it is one stop shopping for you,
so all you have to do is find this
story in the two wants to know section.
We've got those links for you,
Randall, this is a question and
I'm not sure how this goes.
The person is asking can we get
help if we are in high point?
I'm not sure if the Guilford County part
allows folks in the high Point City limits.
Yes, most definitely. The city
of High Point is included. OK,
so the only thing that is excluded
right for the Guilford County
program is the city of Greensboro.
So if you are in high point,
if you are in anywhere in
the Guilford County limits,
there you are able to
apply for Guilford County.
Let me ask you both this question.
I don't know if it's different.
I don't think I don't think it is.
I think it will be the same.
They're asking,
what if I rent a room from somebody?
Can I get rent assistance?
Yes, informal leases and formal
leases are valid with the city
of Greensboro Rent Program.
As long as you can provide proof
of residency and the landlord or
whomever is on the agreement with
you will be able to certify that
you are eligible for the program.
All right, anything different there
for Guilford County Randall. It would
be the same for us as well.
Anything informal will itself OK,
and then this person is asking if I.
I own my home. Can I get help with
utilities or is this just for renters?
Just for renters and tenants,
the utility assistance is only
for renters and tenants. And
what about the Guilford
County program? Randall
or Guilford County?
We do have a small portion of
funding for mortgage holders
to assist with utility needs.
OK, so there is
a small bit of money in Guilford County.
For those who are paying a mortgage
but need help with their utilities.
But at this point, this money is not
earmarked for those who own their home.
Correct, OK, so there's no
mortgage help there, and so we
want to just make that clear
that this is for renters only.