NEWS RELEASE
September 14, 2012
CONTACT: Shelley Saukko, Deputy Director
(218) 726-2210
St. Louis County receives $125,000 to assist low-income flood victims
St. Louis County has received an additional $125,000 in funding from the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency to assist low-income residents who have become homeless or are at risk of becoming homeless as a result of last June’s flood.
To be eligible for assistance, a person’s or family’s income must be at or below 200-percent of federal poverty guidelines. For a family of four, that means annual income must be less than $46,100. Other criteria are that the applicant is in a housing crisis or is at risk of homelessness because of damage from the flood, and that the assistance will improve the immediate problem.
Needs will be analyzed on a case-by-case basis. Some examples of how the assistance could be used include: damage deposits, housing search expenses, moving costs and utilities. Former St. Louis County residents who moved away as a result of the flood are still eligible for assistance if they meet all criteria.
To apply or verify eligibility, people should contact the Salvation Army at (218) 722-7934, ext. 103 (Elise); or the Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency (AEOA) at (218) 749-2912, ext. 268 (Angela).
Carlton County received the same funding. Residents there should contact Lakes and Pines at (320) 679-1800 (Dawn).
The funding comes as a result of the Disaster Relief Bill passed during the legislative special session, and is added to money the County already receives through the Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program (FHPAP).