The Mississippi legislature set aside $20 million of the $1.2 billion the state received for coronavirus relief funds to help landlords who lost rental income. Jamie Miller with Mississippi Development Authority provided an update to the Senate Housing Committee Thursday. He says $15 million was allocated for residential and $5 million for commercial property owners.
“We’ve awarded about 10 and there’s about $10 million left in the fund to award. We don’t think we’ll award the full $20 million. But we think we’ll be around $16 or $17 million awarded,” said Miller
Miller says the grants are capped at $30,000. He notes more than 1800 applicants are appealing their grant denials. Miller says those will be reviewed this week. Democratic Senator Barbara Blackmon is chair of the Housing Committee. She questions why all of the money wasn’t allocated.
“And so you only received applications for the entire $20 million not above? said Blackmon.
“We did, now in some cases they’re applying for more than $30,000. So when we initially do the intake, we look at the requests that are made but then as we go through the application then we see what they’re eligible for. So, right now, we’re pretty close to knowing what we’re going to end up spending,” said Miller.
The Mississippi Development Authority also discussed a $38 million program for homeowners and renters coming online soon through HUD. They say the program will provide up to six consecutive months of rent, mortgage or utilities payments. MDA says it will be administered by the Mississippi Home Corporation.
