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COVID-19 Relief Provided by the CARES Act
The City of Bowie has received funding under the federal CARES Act to provide support to Bowie residents. Programs include:
- Emergency Rental Assistance
- Food Distribution
Emergency Food Distribution Events for City of Bowie Residents
As part of the City’s CDBG-CV-funded relief programs, the City of Bowie will be distributing emergency food aid to city residents at selected locations across the City. The City’s Office of Grant Development and Administration (OGDA) will administer five food distribution events across the City. The remaining one takes place on: Saturday, November 14, 2020: Grace Lutheran Church, 2503 Belair Drive, Bowie, MD 20715
Food will be distributed from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. (or until all food is gone.) All food will be non-perishable and include ingredients for a selection of meals. Volunteers, wearing masks and gloves, will load food into vehicles and staff will gather information from residents in their cars; residents will not exit their vehicles.
Only City of Bowie residents are eligible for this program. Residents will be required to provide identification and a piece of mail with a Bowie address on it to qualify for assistance. Please check to make sure your address is within City of Bowie limits at this check residency link.
Previous food events;
- Saturday, October 17, 2020: Rockledge Elementary School, 7701 Laurel Bowie Rd, Bowie, MD 20715
- Saturday, October 24, 2020: Bowie Marketplace Parking Lot behind Harris Teeter, 15501 Annapolis Rd, Bowie, MD 20715
- Saturday, October 31, 2020: Bowie Town Center Parking Lot behind 5 Guys, 3851 Town Center Blvd, Bowie, MD 20716
- Saturday, November 7, 2020: Village Baptist Church, Mitchellville Road, Bowie, MD 20716
For more information, or if you wish to volunteer, please contact Program Coordinator Kay Starr at 301-809-3009 or email cobcares@cityofbowie.org
If you are in need of food assistance but are not a resident of the City of Bowie, please contact the Bowie Interfaith Food Pantry or United Communities Against Poverty.
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Emergency Rental Assistance Program for Bowie Residents
The City of Bowie COVID-19 Emergency Rent Assistance Program provided short-term rental assistance to eligible households who have lost income due to the COVID-19 pandemic and caused them to fall behind on their rent. While funds are available, the program will provide up to one month’s rent to eligible households to cover the cost for back rent (arrears).
Program Information
Are You Experiencing Difficulties Staying in Your Home Due to COVID-19?
The City of Bowie Office of Grant Development and Administration (OGDA) is offering relief to renters experiencing financial difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic through the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP). Eligible Bowie residents may receive rental assistance from the City of Bowie to help remain in their homes.
WHO CAN APPLY?
Bowie tenants who live within the incorporated boundaries of the City of Bowie that can document hardship as a direct result of COVID-19. Renters must be on-rent as of March 31, 2020.
WHAT DOES ERAP COVER?
ERAP covers the amount required by the landlord to resolve the outstanding balance less any funds available to be contributed by the applicant or one month’s rent, whichever is less. Late rent for periods prior to April 1, 2020 will not be paid with the City of Bowie Rental Assistance funds.
TENANT ELIGIBILTY REQUIREMENTS
• Valid lease agreement.
• Income must be at or below 80% of the area median income guideline.
• The household must have experienced loss of income due to COVID-19
MINIMUM DOCUMENTATION NEEDED
• Application
• IRS W-9 Form
• Proof of income for all household members for at least 30 days.
• Proof of emergency, copy of lease, and rent ledger.
Questions:
• Contact Emergency Rent Assistance Specialist Paola Villatoro, at era@hiphomes.org
• Refer to www.hiphomes.org/bowieERA for additional information
Previous Activities
Landlord Survey
The City of Bowie invited landlords of multifamily buildings complete the following survey by Monday, August 3, 2020: https://www.cityofbowie.org/landlordsurvey
Public Hearings
In accordance with the federal regulations relative to citizen participation for Community Planning and Development Programs and applicable waivers made available to those requirements through the CARES Act as set forth in the memorandum from U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), dated April 9, 2020, the City of Bowie has made available to the public for review and comment an amendment to the 2019 Annual Action Plan. Also pursuant to waivers provided by HUD, the City of Bowie amended its Citizen Participation Plan by revising the public comment period for amendments in response to state and national emergencies from 30 calendar days to 5 calendar days.
The Public Hearing, a virtual/online public meeting, was held on Monday, June 1, 2020, at 8 p.m. This virtual/online meeting could be accessed/viewed live at: www.cityofbowie.org/viewmeetings. The virtual/online meeting was consistent with federal, state, and local emergency declarations regarding the COVID-19 crisis. This was an amendment to enable the City of Bowie to receive and administer $116,863 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding from HUD made available through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). The funding will be used to facilitate assistance to persons and entities impacted by COVID-19. Eligible CDBG activities will include assisting low- and moderate-income households with rental assistance, increasing access to food through local nonprofit service providers, and acquisition of PPE and other supplies for homeless and housing outreach services and assistance.
The draft amendment regarding the plans for the grant funding can be viewed here. This Action Plan amendment was available for a 5-day public review and comment period from May 25, 2020 to May 29, 2020. All comments received were included in the Final Plan Amendment sent to HUD along with the City’s responses.
Comments submitted as testimony to be read at the virtual City Council public hearing on June 1 were submitted to cityclerk@cityofbowie.org by 7 p.m. on June 1. All comments received were included in the Final Plan Amendment sent to HUD