There’s a new housing rental assistance program available in areas around Cherry Valley.
The Community Action Agency announced housing assistance funds are available to those who experienced hardship related to the COVID-19 pandemic. $69,000 dollars will go to residents in the 61016 zip code for immediate use, which the state health department has deemed as especially impacted by the pandemic.
Chris Greenwood from the Community Action Agency said that eligibility is pretty straightforward.
"So if they were affected by COVID-19, loss of income, or hours were reduced if they lost a job or reduce their income, they would be eligible to receive some services through us,” Greenwood said.
Financial assistance is limited to six months and is determined on a case-by-case basis. Greenwood says that service workers who have experienced job loss, or industrialworkers who have seen hours shortened, may be eligible for the emergency housing assistance.
Greenwood said residents of Winnebago and Boone counties who live outside of the 61016 zip code may still be eligible for emergency housing assistance from the CARES Act. But Greenwood says that there is already a long waiting list.
To check eligibility to receive assistance, call the Community Action Agency at 779-348-7582.
- Juanpablo Ramirez-Franco is a 2020 corps member for Report for America, an initiative of the GroundTruth Project which is a national service program that places talented journalists in local newsrooms