Help is available to McKean County renters affected by COVID-19.
Dan Wertz, administrator of the McKean County Department of Human Services, talked about the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) at Tuesday’s meeting of the county commissioners.
Wertz said the program kicked off Monday and eligible families will be able to use the funding for rent or utility costs from March 13, 2020, and Dec. 31, 2020.
The McKean County Redevelopment and Housing Authority is coordinating the program.
“We are encouraging folks to apply now as our goal is to reach as many eligible households as possible before July 31st to ensure the full allocation of funds remain available to county residents,” Wertz explained to The Era after the meeting.
He said that nearly $2.5 million is available for county residents and “will be distributed to landlords and utility companies on behalf of eligible renters.”
To apply, people can either visit https://www.compass.state.pa.us/Compass.Web/RAP/Application or call the Redevelopment and Housing Authority at 887-5563. Michelle Hatch, the authority’s housing & homeless service coordinator, and her team will help.
Eligibility requirements include having an income at or below $36,350 for a single-person household or $68,550 for an eight-person household. Landlords can reach out to the authority, too, if they believe a tenant is having hard times due to COVID-19, and applications can be filled out on behalf of tenants with tenants’ consent.
Commissioners approved a resolution to have North Central administer the COVID-19 Hospitality Industry Recovery Program (CHIRP) funds.
Jim Chorney, executive director of the North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission, explained the agency will be responsible for approval of grants. The agency has been working on an application that will be used for all six counties it serves.
North Central is waiving the fees that were allowable under the program, so that money will instead go into the local communities.
Also at the meeting, commissioners approved a cooperative agreement between Crawford County and McKean and Clarion counties for the administration of $1.5 million of Appalachian Regional Commission funds. The funding is for the construction of the “Erie to Pittsburgh” or “PA Wilds Loop Trails” through parts of McKean and Clarion counties.
Planning Director Jeremy Morey said the funding, to be administered by Crawford County, is for 18.2 miles of recreational trail, some of which falls on the Knox Kane Rail Corridor; $480,000 is to be used to fix 4.8 miles of trail between Kane and Lantz Corners.
Commissioner Tom Kreiner gave an update on the county’s COVID-19 vaccination process. He explained that vaccinations are still taking place but are limited. County officials have met with UPMC Kane, and the county is working with Bradford Regional Medical Center to try to get more. BRMC received a few — 100 — last week.
The Port Pharmacy recently gave 500 vaccinations, and the second shots are set for April 11.
“We continue to fight that battle with (the state) to get vaccinations into the county,” Kreiner said.
Commissioner Carol Duffy reminded everyone the EDA CARES Act loan fund is still open. More information is available on the North Central website, http://www.ncentral.com.
Several people were appointed to the Department of Human Services Advisory Board: Rev. Stacey Fussell, Jodie Homberg and Teresa Wilcox, all with terms that expire June 30, 2023, and Vanessa Castano, Ken Coffman, Gretchen Daugherty, Suzy Meyer-Page, Alcherrie Williams and Stacy Williams, all with terms that expire June 30, 2024.
Under the human resources update, it was announced the county has welcomed four new employees: Leiann Wilber and Breanna Green, DRO enforcement officers; Mackenzie Swanson, 911 dispatcher; and Haley Nicastro, public defender clerk typist II.
The next commissioners meeting will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 24.
