COVID-19 Emergency Housing Assistance Program Expands with $10+ Million Available for Rent, Mortgage, and Deposit Assistance
Emergency Housing Program
Leslie Blaser
leslie.blaser@charlottenc.gov
8/6/2020
COVID 19 Housing Program

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AUGUST 06, 2020) – Charlotte City Council recently approved $8 million additional dollars of CARE’s Act Funding that will allow for expansion of the existing Rental and Mortgage Assistance Program (RAMP CLT). The expanded program will continue funding qualifying mortgage and rent payments.  The $8 million in Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding is now available for mortgage and rental assistance, in addition to the $2.2 million previously made available. The Housing Partnership will execute the program, in partnership with Socialserve.

Since April, 1,529 households have received $1.4 million in mortgage, rent, hotel, and utilities and upfront housing assistance due to COVID-19. This initial funding was limited to those living in City-supported properties, eligible to households earning 80 percent or below the Area Median Income (AMI), or $63,200 for a family of four, and facing a COVID-19 hardship including job loss, wage reduction, illness, or childcare challenges.

With the infusion of CARES Act funding, the RAMP CLT program has expanded. Individuals who earn 80 percent or below the AMI who face a COVID-19 hardship and cannot make housing payments can apply for rent or mortgage assistance. Those who are applying for mortgage assistance must have been current on their mortgage payments prior to April 2020. For rent assistance, payments are made directly to landlords and property managers, so in order to receive funding, landlords and property managers must register as part of the program.

Financial assistance is also available for long-term hotel guests (30 days or longer) who are experiencing a financial hardship and cannot pay the hotel bill due to COVID-19.

A program representative will work one-on-one with all applicants to determine their eligibility for each of these programs. More information on these programs and applications for property managers, hotel managers, tenants and those seeking mortgage and rent relief are available at rampclt.com. Rampclt.com also provides information and resources for those facing eviction.

For more information regarding the City’s housing services, please visit charlottenc.gov/housing.

For more information on The Housing Partnership programs, please visit cmhp.org.

Emergency Housing Assistance Program FAQ

​COVID-19 has created a global health and economic crisis, resulting in different sectors coming together to deliver viable housing solutions for tenants, homeowners, long-term hotel guests, landlords and communities. The City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County recognized an opportunity in our community and brought together local nonprofits with a track record of delivering housing solutions – The Housing Partnership and Socialserve – to continue helping families who have been impacted by COVID-19 in the Charlotte area. Now, these organizations and others are working together to help individuals and families, using CARES Act funding. 

Since April, 1,529 households have received $1.4 million in mortgage, rent assistance, hotel assistance, utilities and up front housing assistance using funds from the United Way, City Housing Trust/Community Development Block Grant (CBDG), A Way Home/FFTC Housing Endowment and the CARES Act.

As part of federal CARES Act and CDBG funding, over $10 million for rental and hotel extension and mortgage assistance is available. $1.2 million for security and utility deposit assistance is also available.

The program will also fund utility (gas/electric) expenses, including deposit assistance for people currently living in hotels.

Income qualified residents impacted by COVID-19 due to job loss, wage reduction, illness and/or childcare challenges beginning in April 2020 are eligible to receive mortgage, rent and utility assistance. For hotel assistance the eligibility is as follows:

  1. Guests that have lived in the hotel for 30 days or longer
  2. Income qualified (a counselor will help determine this)
  3. Hotel bill cannot exceed 5,000.00 dollars
  4. One-time application only

​Each program requires specific documentation. Visit rampclt.com and click on the program you are interested in to view the necessary documentation. A RAMP CLT representative can also work with you one-on-one to determine eligibility and assist with applying to the program.

​Rental payments are made directly to landlords, property managers who enroll their properties in the program. Assistance can be retroactive to April. Should a tenant have arrears (outstanding payments) prior to April, The Housing Partnership will make a referral to Crisis Assistance Ministry to provide additional assistance including eviction mediation. Once approved, landlords can inform their tenants of the program and provide information directing them to an application (via phone or online).

​The Housing Partnership is administering mortgage payments and Socialserve is administering rent, hotel, and utility (gas, electric) payments.

​Socialserve is administering payments to landlords (security deposit) and utility companies (electric/gas) directly.    

​At this time, there are no immediate plans to fund RAMPCLT when the existing funds are depleted.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Community Relations offers the Dispute Settlement Program, a free mediation service with a trained, neutral third party (mediators) who will work with disputants to reach an agreement. It's an opportunity to express concerns, interests, needs and wants in a confidential setting, and provides an avenue for paying restitution for damages, losses or rent. Landlords and tenants interested in resolving issues outside the courtroom can call the landlord-tenant Line at 704.336.5330 or visit the Community Relations online for more information.

Additionally, Crisis Assistance Ministries and the NC Justice Center offer information and FAQs about tenant rights and evictions during COVID-19.