Eighty-one families in need of rental assistance received much-needed help through a federal rent relief program as a result of the pandemic.

Last week, Tom Miller of Catholic Charities, the agency which administered Carbon County’s portion of the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency CARES Rent Relief Program, provided a report of the families and landlords served during the last round of funding.

The Pennsylvania CARES Rent Relief program was established last summer to assist families experiencing job or income loss as a result of the COVID-19 health crisis who are now struggling to pay their rent.

“It was really a privilege to work with Carbon County in administering the PHFA CARES Rent Relief program,” Miller said.

Between August and November, Miller said the agency received applications from 66 landlords. Of those applicants, 50 landlords, who represented 81 households, received assistance.

The average rental assistance paid was just over $3,000; and all applicants, whether they were approved or not, were offered other services through Catholic Charities, including case management, food, clothing, baby items and more, Miller said.

The program ended in November, but a new round of federal funding for the program is expected in the coming weeks.

Miller said that many people have still been reaching out to Catholic Charities for help with rental assistance.

“The need remains, unfortunately,” he said. “Fortunately, we are in the position that we could help quite a few people.”

Catholic Charities paid out just under $1 million between Carbon County and Lehigh County. The agency, in addition to being the sole administrator for Carbon, was one of three agencies administering the program for Lehigh.

Commissioners’ Chairman Wayne Nothstein thanked Miller and Catholic Charities for taking on this endeavor and added that the county is looking forward to continue the partnership if more rent relief grants become available.