$400,000 in funding has been added to the COVID-19 Basic Needs Assistance Program for mortgage relief. In 2020 the City of Topeka Housing Services Division created COVID-19 assistance programs to help with basic needs for people who have been negatively impacted by COVID-19. These federal dollars have been and continue to be a great resource to the individuals struggling in Topeka. The City of Topeka has helped 612 individuals who reside in 476 households since the program started, of those people 42.8% are minorities.
Applications for the Basic Needs Assistance Program were accepted beginning on December 1st, 2020. 476 applications have been approved so far with $1,322,847in funds having been paid. 96% of the original funds have been committed and expensed for an average of $2,779 per approved household.
“$400,000 in additional funds for mortgage assistance will greatly help those in our community who are struggling to keep their homes. We are focused on helping those most vulnerable people negatively affected by COVID” said Corrie Wright, Division Director of Housing Services.
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. An additional $400,000 in CARES Act funds has been made available to qualified applicants to help cover mortgages. The program is by appointment only and applicants must be city residents, have COVID related outstanding bills after March 2020 and make 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: HS Report July.pub (cot-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com)