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June 30, 2020

CT to provide $33M for landlord, rental, homeowner assistance; Lamont extends eviction moratorium

By Joe Cooper

The state says it's dedicating more than $33 million in state and federal funding to provide financial relief to renters, homeowners and residential landlords impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gov. Ned Lamont announced nearly a third of the money is dedicated to provide mortgage relief for homeowners who are not federally insured. Other dollars are earmarked for rehousing homeless individuals, rental assistance and rehousing people exiting prison.

Lamont also said the state is extending the residential eviction moratorium to Aug. 25, which was a step meant to align Connecticut's measures with federal mandates under The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

“The COVID crisis has taken a toll on many Connecticut families,” the governor said in a statement. “We know that some renters and homeowners are having a hard time paying the costs of their housing. It’s critical that we provide emergency help so that they can stay housed, and to support residential landlords, many of whom are mom-and-pop small businesses themselves.”

According to Lamont's office, the funding will support these programs:

  • $10 million rental assistance program for residents impacted by COVID-19 in an effort to provide payments to landlords on behalf of approved tenant applicants. Priority will be given to low-income households that have been denied unemployment insurance. Funding will be administered through the Connecticut Department of Housing (DOH).
  • $5 million for eviction prevention to support renters who were in the process of eviction before the public health emergency.
  • $10 million for mortgage relief to homeowners whose mortgages are not federally insured. Funding will be administered by the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA).
  • $4 million in rapid rehousing funds to help residents pay costs like security deposits and initial rent to exit homelessness to housing. Funding will be administered by DOH.
  • $2.5 million rental assistance program for those who are ineligible for emergency assistance through the CARES Act, which includes undocumented individuals. Funding will be administered by DOH.
  • $1.8 million in funding for reentry and rehousing assistance for people exiting incarceration. Funding will be administered by the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness.

In addition, the governor's office said all assistance housing programs led by the state and CHFA include counseling to support renters and homeowners develop plans to pay housing costs.

Meanwhile, Connecticut’s largest cities are sharing $10 million under the CARES Act Emergency Solution Grants program to prevent homelessness and to support homeless populations. 

DOH Commissioner Seila Mosquera-Bruno said that housing stability is key to the health and wellbeing of residents as the pandemic has impacted their ability to to pay for housing.

“These initiatives, working in coordination with our partners across the housing industry, including legal services, developers, landlords, lenders and our social service providers, will provide a great opportunity to promote stability, and help our families to weather this epidemic,” Mosquera-Bruno said.

The state’s comprehensive plan comes weeks after landlords from Hartford and across the state earlier this month filed litigation against Gov. Ned Lamont over his April executive order aimed at preventing residential evictions during the COVID-19 crisis.

The plaintiffs in the action, filed in U.S. District Court, own or manage residential rental properties in New Haven, Waterbury, Hartford, Meriden and Bristol.

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4 Comments

Anonymous
December 3, 2020

It doesn't make sense that there is no relief for landlords who have tenants taking advantage of the eviction relief. My tenant has stopped paying despite still getting disability and other assistance. His words - Evict me.. Go for it.. CT said you cant. Stopped paying rent since June. Landlords should be able to apply for lost rent during this eviction moratorium.

Anonymous
November 22, 2020

I am a senior and on a fixed income. I own a small rental property and have one tenant who has taken advantage of the executive order by not paying rent since even before April 1st and through December. She has destroyed my property by breaking 3 windows and the front door lock. She has been employed consistently since before the pandemic. Obviously, she is not eligible for housing assistance. Landlords are human beings also. Not all landlords are rich and famous!!!

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