In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Arlington County has been focusing resources on the needs of those most impacted by the increasing stresses of the health and economic crisis. Here is the latest on how the County has responded to housing-related needs.
Emergency Housing Assistance
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES) provided Arlington with a special allocation of Community Development Block Grant funding. This week the County Board approved a plan for how they will spend the funds after conducting a survey of service providers that revealed at least 3,500 clients having difficulty paying rent. The new CARES Emergency Assistance program will supplement the County’s other programs to provide assistance with rent, utilities, and Internet payments for affected households.
This program will be implemented through Arlington Thrive, a nonprofit that serves as the County’s primary vehicle for providing emergency financial assistance. Thrive can provide same-day money to residents, including low-income individuals, elderly and disabled residents on a fixed income, and people experiencing homelessness. The organization prioritizes families with children, and one-third of the people it serves are children.
Monthly payments will be based on need, and will not exceed $1,500 per month per household, for up to three months. The funds will help cover the cost of rent, utilities, and Internet services. Arlington Thrive anticipates assisting 200-600 households.
Arlington County allocated $300,000 of its contingency fund on April 24, and May 12 added $790,932 from its CARES Community Development Block Grant funds. The County also allocated an additional $500,000 to the program from its larger $20 million COVID-19 relief allocation.
AHIF Payment Waivers
The Affordable Housing Investment Fund (AHIF) is Arlington’s tool for financing committed affordable housing in the county. To help its current borrowers, and in turn the tenants they serve, the County Board has approved a “Limited Waiver” of loan repayments for 19 AHIF-financed properties.
For payments that would be due in 2020, instead of paying the county back, these AHIF borrowers will be able to use funds for tenant assistance and other emergency needs. The waiver lasts through December, and requires that the owners “shall not charge late fees or evict any tenants for nonpayment of rent due to pandemic-related loss of income through December 31, 2020.”
Single-Family Payment Forgiveness
Arlington has approved a temporary forgiveness of loan payments for approximately 100 borrowers from its Moderate Income Purchase Assistance Program (MIPAP) and its Home Improvement Loan Program (HIP). The forgiveness applies to payments due from May through December, and normal payments will resume in January 2021.
Arlington Courts Extend Eviction Relief
Arlington’s General District Court has extended the local judicial emergency through June 7th, which means that no eviction proceedings will occur prior to that date. The order also states that any unlawful detainer filing must include a CARES Act Affidavit to ensure compliance with the federal eviction moratorium.
In addition to these new programs and resources, the County has been actively working on other housing related efforts to respond to the crisis, including maintaining an online list of COVID-19 Housing resources for renters and landlords, homeowners, and anyone at risk of homelessness.