CLEVELAND — Starting Monday, the Cuyahoga County Job and Family Services will accept applications for food, essential supplies and housing assistance for families impacted by COVID-19.
The county said that the funds for the program come from the state of Ohio.
“We have been provided with an additional opportunity to support local families with increased food and cleaning supply costs, and housing expenses due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish. “These funds can be a game changer for parents and their children as families continue to recover from the effects of the pandemic.”
Eligibility is limited to Cuyahoga County families that include a minor child or a pregnant individual, or a non-custodial parent of a minor child receiving Ohio Works First, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and/or Medicaid where the income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty limit.
While the limit for assistance for household supplies may vary, the limit for housing and utility assistance is $1,000 and may not exceed two months of rent.
The county also said it is looking for local stores that will accept payment from the county for items purchased through the program.
According to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, Cuyahoga County’s recovery has been somewhat slower than the rest of the nation. The county’s unemployment rate was at 5.7% in May, which was .2% than the national average. Average wages for the Cleveland region remains lower than the national average.
Details on how to apply are available on the county’s website.
