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COVID-19 Relief Provided by the CARES Act
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Emergency Food Distribution at Kenhill Center on Saturdays in August
The City of Bowie will distribute Emergency Food Assistance in the form of non-perishable groceries at the Kenhill Center on Saturdays in August. Residents will need to prove Bowie residency by providing identification or mail. Read on...
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 for City of Bowie Residents - August 2021
As part of the City’s CDBG-CV-funded relief programs, the City of Bowie will be distributing emergency food aid to city residents via the Kenhill Center every Saturday in August from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Non-perishable and include ingredients for a selection of meals will distributed to city residents only. The events will be drive-through, residents will not exit their vehicles; volunteers will load groceries based on household size. The City’s Office of Grant Development and Administration (OGDA) administers this program.
If you are interested in volunteering for this program, please contact the program coordinator, Kay Starr, at cobcares@cityofbowie.org or sign-up online here. Volunteers will be needed to sort and pack food on Wednesdays and Thursdays, August 4, 5, 11, and 12, 2021 also at the Kenhill Center. Volunteers will also be needed to direct traffic, sign-in residents, and load groceries. All volunteers will be provided with PPE, and indoor cooling stations and water will be available.
Drive through distribution of non-perishable groceries will occur at the Kenhill Center, 2614 Kenhill Dr, Bowie, MD on the following dates:
- Saturday, August 7, 2021
- Saturday, August 14, 2021
- Saturday, August 21, 2021
- Saturday, August 28, 2021
Priority groups for this program include seniors, veterans, persons with disabilities, and households that have had their income impacted by the COVID-19 emergency.
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.
Spring 2021 Landlord Survey
This survey is intended to provide data on the impact of the COVID-19 PANDEMIC for current rental property owners/management firms in the City of Bowie, for the months of October through March (10/31/20 - 3/31/21). Please submit data for ONLY these months. This data will be treated as confidential and is for policy research related to the City’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program and will not be shared with external parties as individual or aggregated data; only City of Bowie totals.
PLEASE RETURN by April 30, 2021.
Complete Spring 2021 Landlord Survey here
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Emergency Rental Assistance Program for Bowie Residents - Closed 12/16/20
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