Rent and mortgage assistance is coming for county households contending with lost jobs or substantial income loss because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The county commissioners at their Wednesday meeting approved a resolution for the county Housing and Redevelopment Authority to apply for and administer funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES) Rent Relief Program.

County officials hope Butler County will receive about $2 million of the $175 million in federal CARES funds received by the state Housing Finance Agency for struggling renters and homeowners.

Those whose household income does not exceed the area median of $68,472 and who became unemployed after March 1 due to the pandemic, or tenants and mortgage holders who are experiencing at least a 30 percent reduction in annual household income resulting from reduced work hours and wages related to the pandemic are eligible, according to the resolution.

“Anything we can do for our residents who were struggling through all this COVID-19 pandemic is dramatically appreciated,” Boozel said. “A lot of this was out of people's control.”

Read Thursday's Butler Eagle for the full story.