Posted: | September 9, 2020 08:56 AM |
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From: | Representative Susan C. Helm |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Strengthening the CARES Act Mortgage and Rental Assistance Program |
In the near future I plan to introduce legislation to amend the CARES Act funded Mortgage and Rental Assistance Program, as established in Act 24 of 2020. After two months of operation it has become clear that immediate changes are necessary to guarantee that households experiencing a financial hardship resulting from COVID-19, are able to access the $175 million in mortgage and rental assistance approved by the legislature. Following passage of Act 24, the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) created and deployed two brand new programs in the matter of a few weeks. While application volume has been steady, feedback from PHFA and its partner organizations indicates that a few adjustments to the legislation would reduce barriers to participation and allow a more effective utilization of these critical resources. To that end, my legislation will include the following changes:
Now more than ever we need to make sure that families receive the support necessary to address their housing needs and give them time to regain financial stability. |
Introduced as HB2868