An organization that is overseeing Carbon County’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program is surprised by the lower than expected turnout of applications for assistance.

Last week, Tom Miller of Catholic Charities for the Diocese of Allentown told the Carbon County Commissioners that he was surprised that he hasn’t been receiving the volume of applications he expected.

Carbon County received $4.22 million through the COVID-19 relief funds from the federal government to help families at risk of eviction, as well as landlords who have lost finances as a result of the pandemic.

Miller said that as of the end of April, 65 households had applied and approximately $298,000 had been distributed.

Households may be eligible for up to 12 months of assistance to cover past-due or future rental and/or utility payments.

To qualify, a household must be responsible to pay rent on a residential property; have at least one person who qualified for unemployment benefits, had a decrease in income, had increased household costs or experienced other financial hardship due to the pandemic; have at least one person at risk of homelessness or household instability; and have a household income at or below 80% of the Area Median Income.

Applicants need to provide the following information: head of household’s personal information; income information for all household members 18 and older; rental lease and amount owed; and the landlord’s name and contact information. If applying for utility assistance, applicants must provide utility expenses and utility provider information.

The program will end when all funds have been expended. All funds must be spent by Dec. 31, 2021.

This is the second time Carbon County has partnered with Catholic Charities to oversee the rental assistance program.

Last year, the county also received an allocation through the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency CARES Rent Relief Program and was able to help 81 families.

For more information on the program, visit www.catholiccharitiesad.org/rent-assistance or call Miller at 610-435-1541, ext. 302.