Assistance Programs COVID19 Response

Updated:  April 12, 2021

Cherokee County, through a partnership with MUST Ministries, Inc.-Cherokee, has launched the Emergency Rental Assistance Program [ERAP] for interested renters in Cherokee County who have fallen behind in rent payments and/or utilities payments due to the public health crisis that emerged from COVID-19.  The project is being supported, in whole, by federal award number ERA 0137 awarded to Cherokee County by the US Department of the Treasury.  An online applciation portal is located on MUST's website at www.mustministries.org/Cherokee-CO.  And, navigating to their website will provide more information about the program, as well:  mustministries.org.  You may call MUST Ministries at either phone number to apply for assistance: (770) 790-3926 or (770) 790-3927.  Qualified renters must demonstrate their inability to remain current on rent or utilities due to the coronavirus pandemic.  Landlords may apply for assistance on behalf of renters.  The ERAP program offers up to 12 months of assistance for delinquent rent and utilities, but assistance received through the Emergency Payments program (Eviction Prevention), below, where applicants can receive up to six months of assistance for rent and utilities, will reduce the number of months of eligibility for assistance through this program.  Please note that priority for assistance is given to households with less than 50% of area median income (limits published by the Department of Housing and Urban Development) and households with one or more members that have been unemployed for at least 90 days prior to application for assistance.  Every effort will be made to assist other households who do not fall within these parameters, as funds are available, so all applications for assistance will be accepted and a determination of elgibiliblty made by MUST Ministries.

Updated:  March 8, 2021

Cherokee County was allocated funds from the second tranche of CARES Act supplemental CDBG funds.  And, the County awarded funds to a community partner, MUST Ministries, Inc. - Cherokee, to adminster an Emergency Assistance Program (Eviction Prevention).  Interested renters can apply for rent and utility relief for up to six months, and may contact MUST's call center at (770) 790-3926 or (770) 790-3927.  Learn more about their program by calling the Canton Office at (770) 479-5397 or visiting their website at MUST Ministries, Inc..  Applicants' landlords and utility providers will be paid on behalf of the tenant.  This program is not the same Emergency Rental Assistance Program [ERAP] offered by the State of Georgia through the Department of Community Affairs and launched March 8, 2021.

Updated:  November 12, 2020

Through the enactment of the CARES Act on March 27, 2020, the Department of Housing and Urban Development has allocated a second tranche of CDBG-CV funds to Cherokee County to prepare for, respond to, and prevent the spread of COVID-19. Cherokee County, under guidance from HUD, plans to make a substantive amendment to the Program Year 2019 Annual Action Plan. PY2019 is the first year of the Five-Year Consolidated Plan for the CDBG Program. The additional resources from the CARES Act allocation will fund projects/activities that will prepare for, respond to, and prevent the spread of COVID-19. A public comment period opened on November 12, 2020 and will close on November 20, 2020 at 5:00 pm. A virtual public hearing will be held at 10:00 am on November 20, 2020. Interested parties must contact the program manager, Laura Calfee, to obtain meeting access instructions and to obtain an agenda. The public is invited to comment on the proposed funding as outlined in the link below.

CDBG-CV CARES Act (2nd Allocation) Proposed Funding

Updated May 24, 2020

Through the enactment of the CARES Act on March 27, 2020, the Department of Housing and Urban Development has allocated CDBG-CV funds to Cherokee County to prepare for, respond to, and prevent the spread of COVID-19. Cherokee County, under guidance from HUD, plans to make a substantive amendment to the Program Year 2019 Annual Action Plan. PY2019 is the first year of the Five-Year Consolidated Plan for the CDBG Program. The additional resources from the CARES Act allocation will fund projects/activities that will prepare for, respond to, and prevent the spread of COVID-19. A public comment period opened May 24, 2020 and will close on June 1, 2020 at 5:00 pm. A virtual public hearing will be held at 10:00 am on June 1, 2020. Interested parties must contact the program manager, Laura Calfee, to obtain meeting access instructions and to obtain an agenda. The public is invited to comment on the proposed funding as outlined in the link below.

CDBG-CV CARES Act Proposed Funding