BULLITT COUNTY, Ky. — While the eviction moratorium is currently extended through June, many landlords and tenants who have been unable to pay rent due to the COVID-19 pandemic said they are still waiting for help.
A landlord in Bullitt County who did not want to be identified said he has four tenants who are trying to get help but still have not been able to pay their rent.
"I cant blame them," he said. "They were asked to stay home from work. They were told to go home from work."
In an effort to help, he said he reached out for updates on the state's Healthy at Home Eviction Relief Fund, but has not received any information in over 80 days.
"I'm not saying they're not working on it, but these people, they've got kids, utility bills they couldn't pay, they lost their income," he said. "It is a vicious circle, but they need to communicate."
Cathy Kuhn, Executive Director of Metropolitan Housing Coalition, said they have found some issues with programs currently in place both locally and nationally.
"There has been varied guidance from the Treasury that has made it difficult somewhat on the local level for those agencies to distribute those funds as quickly as they may want to," Kuhn said.
Kuhn said just last week the Treasury issued some new guidance that is more flexible for the emergency rental assistance programs to help those in need.
In its eighth State of Metropolitan Housing Report, the MHC detailed how COVID-19 has highlighted housing insecurity and racial or ethical disparities within the area. The report provided multiple recommendations, including ones focused on rental assistance programs and resources, to better help the community.
"If we do not take advantage of the resources coming to us right now...we will be on the verge of a homeless crisis," Kuhn said earlier this month.
Jefferson County still has rent and mortgage help available. Anyone can go to stopmyeviction.org to sign up. For more information on rental assistance programs in Kentucky, click here.
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