Lake County’s Federal Emergency Rental Assistance (FERA) Program, which provides help for individuals paying rent and/or utility bills, has processed 1,820 applications since the program opened in April 2021.

Out of the applications that have been processed, 1,300 individuals were eligible based on the program’s criteria and received funding, which comes to 72 percent of the processed applications.

“We are receiving calls every day from individuals who are interested in the FERA program, and we are working hard to assist those struggling from financial hardship due to COVID-19,” said Brenda O’Connell, Community Development Administrator. “This money is helping to improve the lives of our residents by providing them with some peace of mind.”

As of July 31, Lake County has spent $9 million of the $20.6 million provided from the federal government for the FERA program, which will be used to help residents pay their rent and utility bills and enable them to stay in their homes.

Lake County is working with 15 community partners who work directly with the applicant to review their application and determine funding eligibility. About half of the providers have Spanish-speaking staff and can accept and process applications in Spanish. Having community partners greatly increases the capacity of applications that are able to be processed.

“In addition to our community partners who work with applicants, we also have a FERA representative available at the Lake County Courthouse every Thursday,” said O’Connell. “Making information readily available to those who might need assistance is a critical component of our program.”

Applications for the FERA program continue to be accepted. To qualify for help, residents must:

Pay rent in Lake County
Have a COVID-related financial hardship
Be at risk of homelessness or housing instability
Meet income guidelines based on household size
Provide appropriate documentation