The state Controlling Board has approved distributing 420 million dollars in federal CARES Act monday to individuals and businesses struggling economically from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The money includes grants to bars and restaurants, help for low-income renters, arts and nonprofit organizations, colleges and universities. The package was announced last week by majority Republicans in the Ohio House and Senate, and Ohio Governor Mike DeWine:
Ohio House Minority leader Emilia Sykes says DeWine and legislative leaders held onto the money until they had a chance to use it to their political advantage in the days before the November election. And housing advocates are encouraging federal and state lawmakers to approve more funding to address the anticipated rent shortfall in Ohio. Alison Goebel with the Greater Ohio Policy Center says the economic fallout from the pandemic is disproportionately affecting low-income workers already facing high housing costs:
Marcus Roth with the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio says additional resources will be needed by the end of the year, when the CDC's eviction moratorium expires:
Roth says Ohio landlords could see an estimated rent shortfall of between 544 million and 792 million dollars by January.
