The First State is offering assistance to renters affected by the coronavirus outbreak.
Those facing shutdowns, closures, layoffs, reduced work hours, or unpaid leave can get up to $1500 in housing assistance.
The money can only be used for direct payments to a landlord or utility company for rent or electric bills.
$2 million from Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA) and $500,000 from New Castle County are funding the effort through the Delaware Housing Assistance Program.
And DSHA Public Relations Director Jessica Eisenbrey says they are seeking additional funding.
“We are looking at how we might be able to use the federal stimulus package to provide even more funding for this program," said Eisnebrey. "We want to assist as many families as we can but funding is limited.”
Gov. John Carney’s State of Emergency declaration prevents landlords from evicting renters and charging late fees or interest during the health crisis.
Eisenbrey says the program aims to prevent a wave of evictions once the State of Emergency is over.
"Our concern is when those things are lifted in a month or two we want to prevent a wave of evictions from happening in those months," said Eisnebrey. "So this program really helps give people a payment here or a payment there to make sure that they can get through the next month.”
For more information on DE HAP and to access an application, visit de.gov/coronavirus or http://www.destatehousing.com.
