In 2020 the City of Topeka Housing Services Division created COVID-19 assistance programs to help with basic needs and small businesses in the community who have been impacted by COVID-19. These federal dollars have been and continue to be a great resource to the businesses and individuals struggling in Topeka. The City of Topeka has helped 23 small businesses and 177 individuals since the program started. Funding is still available.
“We have seen a great need in our community for assistance due to the impacts of COVID-19,” said Corrie Wright, Division Director of Housing Services. “The Operation COVID-19 Assistance programs were designed to help our small businesses stay open and keep our neighbors housed.”
Applications for the Small Business Grant program were accepted beginning on October 1st, 2020. Nineteen applications have been approved and 28% of the funds have been committed and paid. 83% of the recipients of the grant are minority or woman owned businesses. The average grant for approved applicants is $12,486.
The Small Business Grant Program provides operating assistance to sole proprietors and business owners employing 1-25 persons as of March 1st 2020 to keep residents employed. For a business to qualify for this grant they must be owned, or employ low to moderate income persons and demonstrate a need. Applicants can apply up to $20,000 in assistance and are eligible for expenses including payroll, rent/mortgage, utilities, loss of inventory or COVID related purchases.
Applications for the Basic Needs Assistance Program were accepted beginning on December 1st, 2020. Thirty-one percent of the funds have been committed and expensed in two months. 177 applications have been approved so far with $427,259 in funds having been paid.
The Operation COVID-19 Basic Needs Assistance Program is a foreclosure/eviction mitigation and utility prevention shut-off program created by the City of Topeka and administered by the Community Resources Council. $1.5 million in CARES Act funds are available to qualified applicants to help cover expenses and help keep people housed and with utilities. The program is by appointment only and applicants must be city residents, have COVID related outstanding bills after March 2020 and match no more than 100% of area median income. Appointments can be scheduled over the phone from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday by calling (785) 233-1365. If the line is busy, leave your name and phone number and CRC staff will call back to schedule an appointment.
More information on the COVID assistance programs can be found on the City of Topeka website. https://www.topeka.org/housing-services/covid-assistance-programs/
You can view the full report on the COVID Assistance Programs here: https://cot-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/planning/HSRptJan2021.pdf