COVID-19 RENTAL ASSISTANCE

COVID-19 RENTAL ASSISTANCE

The clock is ticking for people who are behind on rent and want to keep their home.

But not all hope is lost.

The governor has created the covid-19 rental assistance program and there are other programs right here in fort wayne ready to help.

Fox 55'sjentill neal tells us how those resources kept one woman and her family from losing everything.

Jentill?hunter, beginning august 1st landlords will again be allowed to evict tenants for non-payment.

, but thankfully sanelly reeve got the help she needed before then.

She almost lost hope for her family of five until she got the help she needed.

3 sanellys reeve and her three children were out on the street when her husband lost his job.

They temporarily had to stay in a shelter.

17:13:45-17:13:53"i thought i was going to stay in a shelter for a very long time and i thought i wasn't going to be able to keep my kids or give my kids a home anytime soon."

Reeve says she made a plan and acted fast ... reaching out to fort wayne housing authority.

17:14:15-17:14:40"i needed a job obviously, but i have to have childcare first.

As soon as the impact office saw i was homeless, they were able to help me immediatley with childcare which i was grateful for.

I put my kids in childcare and i was able to work and save up money.

The program ready to rent helped me."there are going to be many people like reeve hoping for the same happy ending before august 1st.

That's when landlords will be legally allowed to evict tenants for non-payment.

That's why george guy ... ceo of fort wayne housing authority says do not wait.they are using the governors covid rental assistance program now.> 16:44:49-16:44:55"with the governor announcing the funds being available in july it's getting that started before then.

August 1st prevents a challenge to those who are behind.

With this plan and the way it's set up, hopefully we can get to those folks prior to august 1st."brightpoint in fort wayne is also providing resources with not only rent but utilities as well.> 16:59:19-16:59:42"if families are struggling with their rent or mortage, they should call us and we have a number of different housing assistance programs. most families are going to fit into one of them as long as we have funds."

Hunter, there are many ways people can get help with their rent.

I've put a full list of resources on this story at wfft dot com.

Reporting live jentill neal ... fox