As Eviction Moratorium Expires, CHN Ready w/ Emergency Rental Assistance
(Community Housing Network, July 26, 2021)
With the federal eviction moratorium extended for the last time through the end of July, Community Housing Network is preparing to step in with aide for local families in danger of losing their housing.
The eviction moratorium is slated to end on July 31, after the president signed what is likely to be the last extension.
To prepare for what could be a number of local families losing their homes after the moratorium expires, Community Housing Network is one of three local non-profit organizations poised to distribute COVID Emergency Rental Assistance program funds (CERA) to folks facing eviction.
“We have the funds available to help thousands of individuals in Oakland County alone,” said Karen Bertram, interim director of CERA programming. “We simply need people to reach out and we can start the process of keeping them safe in their homes.”
Currently, there is $61 million in financial assistance available in Oakland County for rent and utilities. As of early July, CHN has already provided more than $5 Million in rental and utility assistance to 538 households. At press time, there are currently more than 1875 applications for assistance pending with CHN and 50 staff have been hired to help run the program.
This is also CHN’s 20th anniversary, as southeast Michigan’s largest housing resource nonprofit organization.
“This is possibly the most critical time in our 20 years of service,” said CHN President and CEO, Marc Craig. “Affordable housing is becoming more obscure. The pandemic only intensified an issue that our teams see here on a daily basis. The most vulnerable populations in our communities need our help to ensure they have the opportunity to thrive. And that starts with safe, affordable housing.”
Currently, CHN is also working on an affordable housing development, named Erin Park, between Nine and 10 Mile in Eastpointe.
For folks facing eviction, CHN said there is hope – and help – available. Bertram encourages people to reach out and be proactive, contacting them before they get an eviction notice.
“Our teams are ready to help,” said Bertram. “It just takes a phone call or visit to our website to begin the process.”
About CHN
Community Housing Network is a nonprofit organization committed to providing homes for people in need through proven strategies of homeless prevention, housing assistance and development, community education and referral, advocacy and additional services. The organization carries out its work in Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties. For the past six years it was recognized by the Detroit Free Press as a Top 100 Workplace and in 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 was honored as a Crain’s Cool Place to Work. For more information, visit www.communityhousingnetwork.org.