Louisiana’s coronavirus rental assistance program was temporarily suspended just four days after it launched due to overwhelming demand.
A notice on the Louisiana Housing Corporation website states that the program has been temporarily suspended due to “overwhelming response.” The housing corporation advises residents to add their emails to be notified when the application process reopens.
The $24 million program aimed to help residents by providing up to three months of direct payments to landlords of eligible tenants was suspended after just four days, NOLA.com reported.
The program was expected to benefit about 10,000 residents, but was soon hit with four times as many applications, according to the outlet.
“We know there are many individuals and families whose lives have been upended by this pandemic,” said Keith Cunningham, the agency’s executive director, according to NOLA.com. “We are committed to doing everything we can to meet the needs of renters and landlords and are hopeful that additional federal dollars will become available as soon as possible.”
Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) reportedly said the response to the housing program showed the level of need.
“We know that much more is needed to address this serious crisis for the hardworking men and women who continue to keep our state going during this crisis,” Edwards said, according to the outlet.
Housing advocacy group HousingLouisiana said the overwhelming response was expected, noting an estimated 142,000 unemployed renters across the state are in need of its services.
HousingLouisiana “has said from the beginning that $250 million is the minimum amount needed for rental assistance through the end of 2020,” the group said in a written statement to NOLA.com.
The group had said last week the program was inadequate to address the need of unemployed Louisiana residents in need of assistance, estimating the state should be providing upwards of $250 million in rent relief.