Doraville is partnering with St. Vincent de Paul Georgia to provide rent, mortgage and utility relief for at least 100 residents who are struggling to pay their bills due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In early February, the city approved a $100,000 grant to the nonprofit, which will accept applications for relief from Doraville residents. The program began accepting applications this week.
“Even though we would love to be able to provide more rental and mortgage assistance for our families, we know that every little bit helps,” Councilwoman Rebekah Cohen Morris said in a news release. “Hopefully this assistance will ensure some of our most vulnerable families will avoid foreclosure or eviction this winter.”
Doraville’s agreement included 40% for mortgage relief, 40% for rent relief and 20% for utility relief. The city used Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economy Security (CARES) Act funds to back the program.
Doraville is the latest city to work with the Catholic charity, which aims to help the homeless and impoverished, to provide pandemic relief. Brookhaven and Chamblee had similar rent and utility relief programs, and a Stone Mountain relief program is still accepting applications.
Jerry Veltri, chief mission officer for St. Vincent de Paul Georgia, told the Doraville City Council that backlogged rent and utility bills have been the most frequently needed assistance. He added that average assistance is about $2,500 per person.
Councilwoman Stephe Koontz, who developed the plan along with Morris, said she wanted to make sure the program helped more than a few dozen residents. If the city allowed awards up to $2,500, only 40 residents could receive the maximum amount of relief.
City leaders decided to cap the maximum relief amount to $1,000. To qualify, an applicant must live in Doraville’s city limits and has to attest to the pandemic’s effects on their finances. In addition, they could not have received assistance from a prior CARES funded program.
The city will reevaluate the program later in March to see whether the maximum assistance size needs to be increased or if funding needs to be adjusted for specific categories. To apply, visit svdpgeorgia.org/doraville-help.
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