Union City Mayor Vince Williams during the Fulton County Board of Commissioners Press Conference. (Photo Credit: Fulton County Government)

Fulton County has reopened its COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance applications this week to provide residents in need of assistance an opportunity to apply for relief.

“I’m thrilled that we are able to re-open this rental assistance program that will be helping people when they need it most,” Fulton County Board of Commissioners Chairman Robb Pitts said. “Many local governments across the state and across the nation have struggled to properly and quickly distribute these funds. Fulton County, Georgia is the exception. We’re leading the state, and we’re leading most other counties — and I’m proud of that.”

Residents outside of the City of Atlanta may apply for temporary rental and utility assistance to cover eligible expenses through the Emergency Rental Assistance program. Covered expenses include rent, delinquent rent, past-due gas, water and electrical utilities incurred as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fulton County COO Anna Roach during the Fulton County Board of Commissioners Press Conference. (Photo Credit: Fulton County Government)

Anna Roach, Fulton County Chief Operating Officer, said that they have worked with their Magistrate Court Chief Judge to give judges access to the application portal to have access to the application information when making dispossessory decisions.

Applicants may qualify for $1,300 per month in rental assistance and up to $200 per month to cover past-due utilities. This is the second allocation of federal Emergency Rental Assistance after Fulton County first opened its rental application period in March.

During the March period, an initial $18 million in federal funding was awarded $10.9 million in payments being approved for 1,699 applications.

This second period has Fulton County receiving an additional $24 million in funding bringing the total amount to $42 million.

To apply online, go to www.fultoncountyga.gov/renthelp or call 855-776-7912 to speak to a live agent. Representatives will be available Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time to assist callers with completing their applications. 

“As you call the call center at 855-776-7912, one of the very knowledgeable assistants can walk you through all of the eligibility. What we are also doing this round is trying to minimize the burden on documentation,” Dr. Pamela Roshell, Deputy Chief Operating Officer for Health and Human Services said. “So where we can take an attestation, which is simply the statement of the tenant that this is their situation, we’re also using those types of measures to minimize documentation and get families qualified and paid as quickly as possible.”

District 7 At-Large Chairman Robb Pitts during the Fulton County Board of Commissioners Press Conference. (Photo Credit: Fulton County Government)

Fulton County is fully committed to working with residents to find solutions to ensure housing stability and prevent homelessness. Toward that end, several measures have been implemented to assist in expediting emergency rental assistance payments. The public can track the number of applications approved and payments made through a transparency page that can be found:  sharefulton.fultoncountyga.gov/stories/s/ixmt-42d8/.

“There’s never been a more important time to lead the pack than now that the federal eviction notice has expired,” Pitts said. “That, coupled with the Delta variant rising. Positive tests are up, hospitalizations are up and deaths are up. So it’s more important than ever to protect our citizens among us who are having trouble with their rental payments and mortgage payments.”

August 02, 2021By Darius Goodman | The Atlanta Voice

See the original content at Fulton County receives Extra Funding, reopens COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Applications | The Atlanta Voice