Huntsville Housing Helps program to assist residents with utility, rental costs
Published on December 15, 2022
Nearly two years after launching its COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP), the City of Huntsville is funding a new program that will aid Huntsville households facing significant financial hardship.
The Huntsville City Council approved a resolution Thursday night to allow the City to transfer up to $6 million in U.S. Treasury funds to Catholic Center of Concern to administer a new rental and utilities assistance program.
Known as Huntsville Housing Helps, the program will replace the ERAP, which launched in March 2021 and disbursed millions of dollars to cover past-due payments of rental and utility costs for Huntsville citizens.
Huntsville Housing Helps will open Monday, Dec. 19. At that time, residents may learn more about the program and complete an application at HuntsvilleHousingHelps.com.
“This opportunity to transition to an additional support program for those experiencing financial hardship or a housing emergency is huge for our community,” said Scott Erwin, Community Development Manager at the City of Huntsville. “We have some citizens who are having trouble finding or affording a unit as prices have escalated. This program will allow many Huntsville citizens to remain safely housed in a time when they may be in financial crisis.”
Huntsville Housing Helps will be available through 2025 or until program funding has been exhausted. To be eligible, residents must live in the city limits of Huntsville and have a household income that does not exceed 50% of Huntsville’s Area Median Income (AMI).
Catholic Center of Concern is a Huntsville-based nonprofit organization that assists North Alabama families facing housing insecurity and other challenges. Under the leadership of the Diocese of Birmingham, Catholic Center of Concern was founded more than 57 years ago to provide financial assistance in the areas of rent/mortgage, utilities, life-threatening prescribed medications, infant diapers, wipes and clothing.
“We are excited about this opportunity because it is our passion and mission to assist families facing housing insecurity with rent and utilities throughout our community,” said Kermit Elliott, Executive Director of Catholic Center of Concern.
For questions related to online application submission, eligibility and/or required documents, please call 256-427-4584 or email contact@huntsvillehousinghelps.com.