The Hays County Emergency Rental Assistance Program has expanded and added a new program called the Community Assistance Program that partners citizens in need with community-based case managers to help get them back on their feet. The Hays Commissioners Court approved the county auditor's office to adopt best practices in accordance with U.S. Treasury Department guidelines as they are made available at their regular meeting Oct. 19.
"The importance is the ability to work with the ever changing guidelines of the U.S. Treasury because they’re coming out with best practices almost weekly. And from that we’ve created documents that really help people that don’t have traditional rental agreements," ERAP administrator Wesley Matthews said.
In June, the court approved ERAP guidelines, but since then there has been more information released from the U.S. Treasury regarding the appropriate uses of the funds. The move by the commissioners will help streamline the process and help citizens faster.
The CAP is a 90-day rehousing program, Matthews said in his presentation, and came about as over 400 applications were submitted to the four individuals who work in the ERA office, according to Matthews. Members of local organizations such as the Hays County Food Bank and the Homeless Outreach, Mitigation, and Emergency Center will be trained to act as the case managers for those in the CAP.
