0
Last updated on Tues. Feb. 23, 2021 at 8:00 a.m.
Governor Bryan said Monday the Emergency Rental Assistance program is close to being ready, and provided an update on the number of coronavirus relief stimulus checks that have either already gone out or were set to be delivered.
Rent assistance
“We are really trying to get it up in the next two weeks,” the governor said relative to the rent assistance matter. Mr. Bryan spoke during the administration's weekly press briefing.
The governor stressed that the program, while called rental assistance, is really aimed at providing payments owed by tenants to landlords, and that tenants will need to provide documentation to prove loss of income. He asked landlords to be patient as the administration prepares the program.
The governor explained that tenants should start preparing their lease agreements, proof of job loss (he used unemployment checks as an example), and landlord’s name and mailing address. “These are the things you can do in preparation, so that when we press the start button you will be available,” the governor said. The program also pays utilities, Mr. Bryan stated. "So if you owe WAPA you need to start thinking about how you're going to put those together. Get your bills together, your lease agreement for your rent," the governor said.
Stimulus payments
A total of 9,998 stimulus checks will go out this week: 5,498 Monday and 4,500 later this week, Gov't House Communications Director, Richard Motta, told the Consortium Tuesday morning. Previously, Governor Bryan had said 5,000 checks would go out Monday and 4,500 later this week. The updated figures bring the total checks issued so far to 19,998. The governor said there have been roughly 34,000 individual 2019 tax filings, which means at least another 14,002 checks will go out, which will be in addition to roughly 10,000 checks for Social Security recipients.
Residents have until March 15 to file 2019 taxes to be eligible for the latest stimulus payments, reminded Mr. Bryan.
