Pastor Says Landlords Are Not Using Programs For People Who Can't Pay Rent

A local pastor is upset because he said only 15 percent of landlords took advantage of a program designed to help tenants pay their rent and avoid eviction during the pandemic.

Rev. Jeff Jaynes with Restore Hope Ministries said his group was asked to help administer the Landlord Tenant Relief Program, which would help struggling tenants pay rent to landlords and prevent everyone from having to go to court. Rev. Jaynes said that cases have skyrocketed since the pandemic started and his ministry has already helped hundreds of families from becoming homeless.

Most of the money to pay rent has come from COVID relief funds and other programs.

Rev. Jaynes said the low turnout from landlords is disheartening.

“We shouldn’t take our neighbors to court. We shouldn’t have that be our first response,” said Rev. Jaynes. “Unfortunately, the way this worked out, 85 percent of the people who were eligible didn’t have that opportunity to have those conversations.”

Rev. Jaynes said if you are someone who is struggling to pay rent or even face eviction, you have until the end of September to apply for relief.

You can find the online application here.