Williamson County increases COVID-19 rent and utility aid

Williamson County Commissioners Court voted to increase aid for rent and utility assistance for those impacted by the coronavirus as well as other programs Jan. 19.

Wilco Forward, the county’s federal coronavirus relief program, is working to distribute the remaining $30 million of the $93 million the county received in April.

So far, the county has used its CARES Act funding for a small-business grant program as well as distributing funding to school districts, cities, emergency services districts, vaccine distribution, rent and utility aid programs, and more.

On Jan 19, the county increased the rent and utility aid allotment from about $4 million to $8 million and extended it from three to six months. It also allocated $365,000 to be used to pay for COVID-19 testing and vaccine-related programs and $200,000 to assisting local emergency service districts.

Those seeking assistance in rent and utility payments can go to the Round Rock Area Serving Center, The Caring Place, The Salvation Army or Hill Country Community Ministries. The criteria each entity is following to assess eligibility and the service areas each entity is covering can be found here. Residents living in the city limits of Austin should contact the city of Austin for assistance at www.austintexas.gov.

The federal government extended the deadline to use the CARES Act funding through Dec. 31, 2021. The previous deadline was Dec. 30, 2020.