resources for families facing financial hardship due to COVID-19

There is no question that families are struggling as our community lives through the COVID-19 pandemic. For some families, a job loss or reduction in income has stretched not only the family dollar but also the mental health of all family members. While our community does not know the long-term economic impacts of COVID-19, there is some relief for families who may be experiencing a loss of income and are finding it difficult to make ends meet. 

Montgomery County families can take advantage of the CAREs Act Funds that have been set aside to help families with mortgage and rental assistance or utility payments. There are several programs that families can apply for and are encouraged to do so as the funds must be spent by Montgomery County no later than December 31, 2020.

If you have had a loss of employment income after March 1, 2020 due to COVID-19 that impacted your ability to pay your mortgage or rent. You may be eligible for the mortgage or rental assistance offered through Montgomery County. Details can be found online. (Note applications for Mortgage Assistance are due October 30, 2020.) The loss of income could have been caused by a layoff, reduced work hours, furlough, or reduction in pay.

There is also a new program to help families with utility bills if their income has been impacted by COVID-19. For this program:  

• The applicant must be a residential customer of DP&L and/or Vectren (business accounts are not eligible).
• The applicant must reside in Montgomery County.
• The property’s service address must be in Montgomery County.
• Have a balance at least 30 days past due with either or both utility companies.
• Credits will only cover charges billed on or after March 1, 2020.

Even if you have applied for utility assistance through other local programs, you may still be eligible for these grants, provided you still have an amount at least 30 days past due. Applications need to be made by November 30, 2020.  The application for this program can be found here: https://mcobiz.com/cares-grants/cares-grant-application-utilities/

It’s a challenging time for many families and the stress of unpaid bills can take a toll. Take advantage of these opportunities for relief!