Raleigh, NC – Today, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) released the following statement on the Biden Administration’s newly announced steps to accelerate the delivery of Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) to vulnerable families and children and struggling landlords:

“I applaud the Biden administration for issuing new guidance that will expedite the delivery of billions of dollars in federal relief to those at-risk of eviction and landlords struggling to stay afloat,” said Congresswoman Ross. “As the COVID-19 pandemic persists in North Carolina, it’s critically important that we keep people in their homes. While the distribution of ERA funds by state and local agencies has increased in recent months, it’s crucial that we continue this momentum so that those facing eviction here in Wake County can receive this essential relief. I thank President Biden for his commitment to this issue and for the whole-of-government approach that his administration has adopted for tackling the challenge of delivering vital rental assistance to our nation’s most vulnerable. ”

To accelerate the delivery of ERA, new guidance from the Treasury Department will allow state and local agencies to use self-attestation to document a household’s eligibility for rental assistance; allow state and local agencies to partner with nonprofits in delivering relief; allow the delivery of advance payments to landlords and utility providers; and assist renters who are labeled “hard-to-house” households, among other policies.

In the last year, Congress has allocated billions to states to aid renters and landlords, and these funds have supported over 68,500 households in need across North Carolina.

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