$3,900,000 To Be Handed Out on First Come, First Served Basis As US City Launches Income Assistance Program

A US city is launching a financial assistance program that aims to distribute millions of dollars in the form of grants to eligible residents.

The City of Richmond, Virginia says it will provide a one-time housing assistance grant of $1,200 to each of the successful applicants of the RVA Stay Gap Grant Program.

According to the city, $3.9 million is available for the program and the grants will be handed out on a “first come, first serve basis.”

Applicants of the RVA Stay Gap Grant Program must be residents of the City of Richmond and must prove that their annual housing costs are equal to or more than 30 of their total household income to qualify.

Applicants must also be in the bottom 80 of the low-income category and must not be receiving other forms of housing assistance from the City of Richmond.

If the applicant is a renter, they must possess a current lease bearing their name. If a homeowner, they must possess a current mortgage with their name on it.

“Renter annual housing costs may include rent, tenant renter’s insurance for personal property, and utility costs.

Owner annual housing costs may include mortgage payments and utility costs.”

For successful applicants who are homeowners, the grant will first go towards paying their real estate taxes and the balance will then be sent to them in a check. In the case of successful applicants who are renters, the entire grant of $1,200 will be sent to their landlord.

The deadline for applications is December 31st. Applicants will be notified within eight weeks whether they have been accepted or rejected for the City of Richmond’s RVA Stay Gap Grant Program.