![]() ![]() “The time that they have turned all of this around has been remarkable.” Larson applauded the program’s progress so far. The bus is on the road more than four days a week and frequents over 80 locations across the state. Housing advocates have argued it makes the process intimidating and harder overall for applicants who don’t have access to technology or aren’t familiar with it.Īs a response, UniteCT has hired more staff to address the backlog, changed requirements and even launched a mobile tech bus to get the word out to communities with low access to technology. The program also has drawn criticism for being completely online. According to recent data, nearly 8,000 cases have one party that hasn’t accepted the invitation to participate. If one side is unresponsive, the application can take more time to get approval or completely fall through. ![]() The program requires participation from the landlord and the tenant, and both sides say this presents an extra hurdle to getting money out. “When have you seen a program managed by the state that every day we’re getting out almost $2 million?” Mosquera-Bruno added.īut while the program has made progress, it hasn’t come without a few obstacles and criticism from housing advocates and landlords alike. And it’s all thanks to the efforts of more than 200 staff members with UniteCT and the program’s partnerships with several housing counseling agencies across the state. Mosquera-Bruno said the program is getting a significant amount of money out the door daily. John Larson and Bristol Mayor Ellen Zoppo-Sassu to tout the progress of the program and other pandemic-related relief efforts. Maybe people got sick, they lost their jobs or they lost somebody in their family and they weren’t able to meet their obligations,” said Seila Mosquera-Bruno, commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Housing, at an event in Bristol last week. “UniteCT is our rental relief program so we can help tenants and landlords to make sure they get some assistance. Eligible applicants are tenants who make 80% or less of the HUD median income requirements. It offers up to $15,000 for unpaid rent and $1,500 for electricity bills. UniteCT was launched in March after the state received over $400 million from the federal government to stem the tide of evictions and, ultimately, homelessness. Tenants are eligible if they earn up to 80% of the area median income and are currently facing eviction.The state’s rental assistance program has approved nearly 5,000 cases as it celebrates a little over four months since its launch, and state housing officials say that number is a good sign that the program is finally getting help to those who need it. Am I eligible for the UniteCT Eviction Prevention Fund? The housing department plans to spend the money over the next three years, although that may change depending on the number of applications, officials said in January. The state combined that money with $1.5 million the legislature set aside for a rent bank program last year to launch the Eviction Prevention Fund. In October, UniteCT received an $11 million boost in funding from the federal government. UniteCT initially launched with about $400 million from the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act, all of which has since been obligated to renters. People facing eviction who meet the eligibility requirements and don’t have legal representation will have access to mediators at Quinnipiac University’s Center on Dispute Resolution, according to the press release. To receive the money, tenants have to enter an agreement with their landlord to either stay in the unit until back rent is paid or find a plan to move to a new place, according to a program overview document. ![]() Checks will go directly to landlords, Department of Housing officials said. ![]() It can cover rent owed back to April 1, 2020, DOH spokesman Aaron Turner said in an email. The program is for tenants who already have evictions filed against them. The fund, which was announced in November 2022 and launched in January, will offer up to $5,000 per household to pay rent owed to landlords. The UniteCT Eviction Prevention Fund and rent bank is aimed at preventing evictions that have already been filed in court. What is the UniteCT Eviction Prevention Fund? Here’s what you need to know about the new UniteCT Eviction Prevention Fund. ![]()
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