The City of Birmingham has received nearly $6.3 million in federal funding to assist residents who are unable to pay rent and utilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The funding comes as part of a $25 billion program from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, which began allocating money to states, territories, local governments and Indian tribes last month.
Funding for the Emergency Rental Assistance program was approved by the City Council during Tuesday’s regularly scheduled meeting. It was initially announced last month by Mayor Randall Woodfin, who said his administration had made the funding a “priority.”
“No one should be at a risk of losing their home or services due to economic hardships from COVID-19,” Woodfin said in a press release.
When the program becomes available, Birmingham renters will be able to apply as long as they meet the following criteria:
Applications to receive funding aren’t yet being accepted; an information line for the program can be reached at 205-250-7537, and the program has a page on the city’s website.
Gov. Ivey leaves face mask order alone for now, but says it will end April 9.
As of Wednesday, UAB had administered roughly 80,000 vaccine doses, but Black residents remain disproportionately underrepresented.
Nine Birmingham nonprofits will receive funding from the city’s Building Opportunities for Lasting Development grant initiative this year, despite an overall reduction in funding for the program.
Within about a year, the state has lost almost 10,000 Alabamians to COVID-19.
UAB health experts say when it comes to vaccine variety, more is better. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is the latest to win approval from the federal government.
Currently, there are six people in the race for mayor of Birmingham. The filing deadline is July 10.
