MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - The city of Memphis, Tennessee, and Shelby County have received more than $28 million in federal funds to help residents who have fallen behind in rent payments, officials said.
City spokesman Dan Springer said Memphis received $19.6 million from the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, the Commercial Appeal reported. Shelby County received $8.6 million.
The funds came from a recent federal spending and COVID-19 relief bill that set aside $25 billion for emergency housing assistance.
The program “will provide residents with direct financial assistance, including rent, rental arrears, utilities and home energy costs, utilities and home energy costs arrears, and other expenses related to housing,” Springer said.
Eviction moratoriums have delayed evictions of renters who have lost income due to job loss or other reasons during the coronavirus pandemic.
Eviction filings have piled up in courts around the country. Nearly 10,000 evictions were filed in Shelby County from June through December.
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