Lakewood Offers Residential Rent Relief — Eligible Residents Can Apply for Rent Assistance

Lakewood Offers Residential Rent Relief
Eligible Residents Can Apply for Rent Assistance

The City of Lakewood announced today a new Residential Rent Relief grant program in response to the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic. Residents who meet the program’s eligibility requirements can find the application at http://www.lakewoodoh.gov/residential-rent-assistance-program/.

Mayor Meghan George said, “Lakewood’s residents are our most important asset. Many are struggling to make ends meet. We are still waiting for our state and federal leaders to provide us all with the relief we need, but, in the interim, some federal dollars have reached us and I am pleased to offer this unique grant program to support our residents.”

The City of Lakewood is utilizing approximately $1.5 million in CARES Act funding received from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. These funds are available to prevent housing instability and displacement among low-moderate income Lakewood tenants who are unable to pay their rent due to pandemic-related economic hardships. The program is being administered in conjunction with Cuyahoga County by CHN Housing Partners and Lakewood Community Services Center (LCSC), two nonprofit organizations addressing our region’s most critical housing needs.

Shawn Leininger, Director of Planning for the City of Lakewood, said, “We are so fortunate in Lakewood to have the resources to help our residents, partners like CHN and LCSC with the experience to support the application and screening process, and a leader like Mayor George who can bring those pieces together.”

The Residential Rent Assistance Program provides rental assistance, retroactive to April 1, 2020, to Lakewood tenants who are income-eligible according to HUD 2020 Income Guidelines. All rent payments will be made directly to landlords on the tenant’s behalf.

Trish Rooney, Executive Director of LCSC, said, “LCSC and the City of Lakewood have worked in partnership for many years to ensure that low-moderate income residents remain in safe and appropriate housing. The city’s Residential Rent Relief program funds will go a long way toward preventing evictions and providing housing stability for our community’s most vulnerable residents.”

For more information on the Residential Rent Relief grant program and other resources, visit http://www.lakewoodoh.gov/coronavirus/ or contact the Planning & Development Department via email at planning@lakewoodoh.net.