Need help with rent, bills? New state program will aid those hurt by coronavirus fallout

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Gov. John Carney and the Delaware State Housing Authority on Tuesday announced a new program to help people pay rent and utility bills as the state tries to contain the spread of coronavirus.

The Delaware Housing Assistance Program will give up to $1,500 for rent and utility bills to people who qualify.

After hearing about the program Thursday, Vicki Wirt of Minquadale raced to the state website to see if she would meet the criteria.

Wirt, 61, works for the state on a salary of less than $35,000. She has an autoimmune disease that makes her more vulnerable to the coronavirus and had to take an unpaid leave of absence from her job March 17 until at least May 15.

"It's nice that this is being offered, but I'm just worried about getting it," Wirt said. After being told by her doctor to self-isolate, she doesn't have money to pay her rent, car note or phone and power bills, much less buy food.

Applicants must meet a list of criteria to apply. They must live in Delaware, make below the median amount of money for the county in which they live and show documentation that their employment was affected beginning on March 10 or later.

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Applicants for the program must show that they were laid off, had reduced working hours or had to take an unpaid leave of absence for child care or other issues created by the public health crisis.

“From restaurant workers and small business owners, to hair stylists and barbers, we know many Delawareans are facing a very challenging time as they struggle with the economic effects of the public health emergency,” Carney said in a statement. “We hope this assistance program will give Delaware families, especially our most vulnerable neighbors, some peace of mind as this situation continues to evolve.”

Providing money for rent and utilities was the second move this week that Carney made specifically for renters.

Days earlier Carney added to his state of emergency a declaration that prevented Delawareans from being evicted from their homes during the coronavirus pandemic. It also barred landlords from charging late fees or interest on rent.

DSHA provided $2 million for the housing assistance program and New Castle County government added another $500,000. Several agencies, including West End Neighborhood House, Catholic Charities, Lutheran Community Services, First State Community Action Agency, and the Sussex County Community Resource Center, will help the state process applications.

Income requirements for single-family residences or families of four range from $40,400 to $62,350 in Sussex County, $37,450 to 53,500 in Kent County and $50,500 to $72,100 in New Castle County.

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The move comes as the nation scrambles to combat the coronavirus, and Congress passed a $2 trillion stimulus package to rescue the American economy.

Wirt lives in the Minquadale Trailer Park and pays $550 a month in lot rent, which she doesn't have.

She has given her landlord some money and has $50 in her credit union account, but still must pay a phone bill, car note and car insurance. She has food to last another week or two before she has to start asking people to borrow money. Her tax return hasn't come, and she doesn't know if she will get unemployment.

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"I have rent to pay. I paid a little over half for the month of April, but I'm not going to have the money to pay the rest of it. I'm not going to have the money to pay my electric bill," Wirt said.

Self-isolating has slowed everything but her bills down.

"Just because there is a virus you still have to pay your rent," she said. "On top of all the stress about having to stay home and not catch a virus that can kill you."

Contact Ira Porter at 302-324-2581 or iporter@delawareonline.com