The City of New Orleans recently announced that it has received an additional $9.5 million from The U.S. Department of the Treasury to support renters and landlords during the COVID-19 pandemic, through the Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program.
“The City of New Orleans remains committed to ensuring our most vulnerable citizens receive much-needed support during a time in which housing and healthy environments are vital to ending the pandemic,” said Mayor LaToya Cantrell. “We are grateful for this monumental recognition as a high-performer, and as a leader in Louisiana and across the nation in providing financial assistance for tenants and landlords severely impacted by the virus. Although we are helping so many in our city, the need is greater than the resources available. We remain focused on filling that gap until all of our people are served.”
“Treasury is happy to provide these state and local government programs with additional resources to support Americans in need of rental assistance,” said Deputy Secretary Wally Adeyemo. “We are also committed to reallocating resources to ensure assistance reaches struggling tenants and landlords during the pandemic.”
New Orleans received the additional allocation on Sept. 13, following disbursements of $11.6 million in February and $6.3 million in June, totaling $27.4 million received in ERA allocations. The City’s Office of Housing and Community Development spearheaded the rental assistance program that has served more than 4,000 Orleans Parish residents by organizing community outreach and awareness events to reach those in need.
To help expedite the disbursement of the additional rental assistance funding, the Office of Housing Policy and Community Development will host a third community-based assistance event from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 21 through Thursday, Sept. 23, at the Joe Brown Recreational Center, 5601 Read Blvd. Anyone who has applied for rental assistance from the City of New Orleans and has not been assisted may attend. City employees will be onsite to provide updates and review documentation for rental assistance applicants. Translators and legal assistance will be available, and social distancing and masks will be required.
For more information on the City’s ERA Rental Assistance Program, visit nola.gov by clicking here.