Blueprints will coordinate Washington County’s rent and utility federal assistance

By ERIC SEIVERLING

eseiverling@yourmvi.com

Thanks to two new federal assistance programs, renters and landlords in Washington County will soon see help with rent and utility payments.

On Friday, Washington County commissioners announced funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will be used for the Emergency Solutions Grant-CV program, and funds from the U.S. Department of Treasury will be used for the Emergency Rental Assistance program.

The programs will distribute more than $7 million to landlords and utility companies to help eligible renters whose income has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The money will allow renters to pay off past due and current rent and utility bills.

Washington County-based Blueprints, a community action agency specializing in federal programs to meet local community needs, has been tapped to coordinate the program.

The application process for the two programs begins Monday.

“The sooner this funding hits the pocketbooks of Washington County residents struggling to pay rent and utilities, the better,” said Washington County Commissioner Chairwoman Diana Irey Vaughan. “Blueprints has a proven track record of helping residents access funding programs like this, ensuring swift delivery of relief.”

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