New funding for rental, mortgage assistance helps families

CHARLOTTE — The Charlotte City Council recently approved an additional $8 million in CARES Act funding for RAMP CLT, which is the city’s Rental and Mortgage Assistance Program.

The program would provide assistance for 8,000 more families.

The rental and mortgage assistance program has supported more than 1,500 families, who have been impacted by the pandemic.

[WSOC SECTION: AFFORDABLE HOUSING]

The Housing Partnership helps administer the program, President and CEO Julie Porter said

“On the mortgage side, the thing that’s happening is financial institutions under the CARE Act were required to offer deferments to people, but that was just for three months and suddenly finding those three months are up, the entire amount is due and they still have a job loss situation.”

Treya Ratchford is trying to keep a roof over her and her four-year-old son’s head.

“Day care is $150 a week,” she said. “So, with paying day care, taking that out of my paycheck and trying to pay rent, it was totally impossible.”

She said she turned to The Housing Partnership to help with her $750 rent payment each month.

Ratchford said a representative helped pay her rent for three months.

“She said something to me, like, ‘Don’t be so afraid to call us for help,’ because that made me feel so good. They’re helping us, but how long does that help last?” Ratchford said.

Ratchford recently started a new job, and she wants others to know help is available.

“They can probably pay your rent and your light bill. Just ask assistance is out there for you,” Ratchford said.

The Housing Partnership has received 600 applications for August. Officials stress that money is available to homeowners.

For more information on how to qualify and apply, you can visit https://rampclt.com/.

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