By Katherine Jones and Ruth Ogunsanwo
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writers
The Baltimore County Council approved an emergency measure Tuesday night that will provide $24 million in federal grants to help needy residents impacted by the coronavirus pandemic pay their rent and utility bills.
The grants, which will help about 1,250 residents who are facing eviction, will be paid directly by the county to landlords and utility providers. The county will also provide grant money to experienced nonprofit service providers, which would make payments to landlords on behalf of qualified renters.
Eligible households may receive up to 15 months of assistance to pay for their rent, utilities and home energy costs, including late payments. To qualify, one or more individuals who live in a household must be receiving unemployment benefits or experienced a cut in income and financial hardship due to COVID-19.
In addition, residents must show that they are at risk of homelessness and have a household income at or below 80% of the area’s median income of $78,500 for a family of four.
Council documents indicate that the council will follow the recommendation of the U.S. Department of the Treasury and prioritize individuals who have been unemployed for at least 90 days and have a household income at or below 50% of the area’s median income.
The grant period runs until Dec. 31.
The latest emergency supplemental appropriation is not the first time the council has approved spending federal funds to help renters. The council approved a $3 million eviction-prevention assistance program in December 2020 with funds that came from the CARES Act.
In other action, the council approved in a 7-0 vote a contract that will allow the county to hire a Pennsylvania-based consulting company to help the local government save money and become more efficient.
Public Works LLC of West Chester, Pennsylvania, will assess the structure of county government agencies as well as the business operations of the Baltimore County Public School system and identify cost saving measures.
The company will also look for ways the county can improve operational efficiencies, enhance services to the public, eliminate redundancies, streamline existing operations, and identify ways the county can build better public-private partnerships.
The contract will run for six months, with the option to extend it for another six months if necessary. Public Works will be paid no more than $1.2 million for the year and is expected to provide county officials with a comprehensive report with its findings.
Councilman Wade Kach, R-District 3, said the contract is putting the county in the right direction.