Schuylkill County wants people to be secure in knowing their families will have a roof over their heads.

Schuylkill Community Action Executive Director David R. Young on Wednesday spoke to county commissioners about the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, or ERAP1.

The program, which closed on Sept. 30, provided 1,569 county households with rental or utility assistance, “helping to provide housing stability for approximately 3,778 county residents who were adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.

In total, over $8.8 million in direct assistance was provided.

In June, the organization into ERAP2. Schuylkill received $7.8 million to continue the program from ERAP1.

People can receive rent, utility and other assistance, such as security deposits and accessibility modifications to help achieve housing stability, Young said.

He said Schuylkill Community Action received 836 applications for the programs, some from repeat requests. “A total of 723 households were approved for rental assistance, impacting 1,790 county residents, including 740 children,” Young said.

Another 90 households have been provided with utility assistance so far.

The program caps rental assistance at 12 months to encourage independence and to make sure there’s enough to help as many people as possible. The organization also works with people to encourage and teach them to become self-sufficient.

The county has received $2.61 million in ERAP 2 assistance, he said.

Commissioners praised Young and the organization’s staff for their good communication and effective work.

In a related matter, commissioners approved Schuylkill Community Action to apply for a $1,629,443 grant from the COVID-19 American Recovery Plan Act Whole Home Repairs fund.

The money come from the federal government through the state Department of Community and Economic Development.

The program will provide funding for county wide agencies to address habitability and safety concerns, provide measures to improve energy or water efficiency, and make units accessible for individuals with disabilities.