The city of Wichita has spent more than 85 percent of the federal relief funding that was provided under round one of a rental assistance program. That adds up to $9.2 million.
The city’s Director of Housing, Sally Stang, said more than 1,500 families have been helped with rent and utility needs, and she said the program has also helped over 690 landlords who have had economic losses related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Wichita Emergency Rental Assistance Program provides up to 15 months of assistance for qualifying families. Stang said families have to be recertified every three months to make sure they are still eligible for the program. The families have to have income that is less than 80 percent of the area median income, and they also have to be in an unstable situation where they are behind on rent and utility payments. People in substandard housing and people in a domestic violence situation could also qualify for the program.
Stang said the round one funding will be used up by the end of September, and the city will then move into round two, which will provide a total of $9.2 million for rent and utility assistance.
