County receives CARES Act funding for short-term rental assistance

Kitsap County will receive $641,438 of Community Development Block Grant coronavirus (CDBG-CV) funds from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).

In an effort to stabilize housing for low-income households experiencing hardship due to COVID-19 and ensure funds provide assistance throughout the County and cities of Poulsbo, Bainbridge Island, and Port Orchard, the Kitsap County Board of Commissioners authorized allocation of the funds to Kitsap Community Resources and Housing Kitsap to assist households with emergency short-term rental assistance.

The funds will be used by each agency to provide short-term rental assistance for a maximum of three months, to households at or below 80 percent area median income affected by COVID-19 and not currently receiving any federal, state, or local housing subsidy.

• Kitsap Community Resources will accept applications through the Housing Solutions Center to assist households throughout the county, outside the city limits of Bremerton, and those not living in Housing Kitsap units.

• Housing Kitsap will accept applications directly to assist households currently living in Housing Kitsap

For rental assistance for households located within the City of Bremerton, contact the Bremerton Housing Authority.

For further information regarding the County’s allocation, please contact Bonnie Tufts, Block Grant Program Manager, Kitsap County Department of Human Services at btufts@co.kitsap.wa.us.

For information about KCR’s COVID-19 Rental Assistance, please contact Housing Solutions Center, 360-473-2035, HSC@kcr.org  or visit www.kcr.org.

For information about Housing Kitsap’s COVID-19 Rental Assistance, please contact Housing Kitsap, 360-535-6100, HousingKitsap@HousingKitsap.org  or visit www.housingkitsap.org.