KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — In around a month, a federal rent relief program will come to an end. The U.S. Treasury Department started the Emergency Rental Assistance Program in 2020 as a way to help people keep their homes in the face of new financial challenges.
The program opened up funding so states could develop their own rental assistance programs. Tennessee created the COVID-19 Rent Relief program, operated by the Tennessee Housing Development Agency. It provided funding to households so they could pay current or delinquent rent if they lost their income because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
On January 6, 2023, the state will close to new applications for the program. On December 29, 2022, Knox Housing Assistance will also end its program. Applications for the county are no longer being accepted as of Tuesday.
Around $53 million have been distributed to thousands of households across Knox County. Those households made at or below 80% of the median income of the area, and the assistance helped them pay
In Knox County 11,000 households have received help from the program. They have received help with usual home bills like rent, utilities and internet payments.
"The goal of this program was to ensure stable housing for low-to-moderate-income renters impacted by the pandemic, and we are proud of what has been accomplished and grateful for the efforts of the nonprofit agencies that have partnered with us on the program," said Jenny Holden in a statement, the senior director of Grants and Community Development.
They have worked closely with the Knoxville Area Urban League,
KLF-Compassion Coalition, VMC and the United Way to disburse the money.
The department included that although there is no substitute program at the moment, they are planning to use the housing website as a resource to share information for future and current housing assistance programs.