The rules surrounding a state program designed to provide people with assistance in paying their rents or mortgages have been changed to allow more people to take part in the program, according to a state official.
Scott Hoversland, executive director of the Wyoming Community Development Authority, on Wendesday encouraged people who may have been denied assistance under the program earlier to re-apply.
“Please go back on and re-apply, you may be eligible,” he said during a news conference with Gov. Mark Gordon.
The program to provide rental and mortgage assistance was approved during the Legislature’s special session earlier this year.
While $15 million was made available to help those who may have lost their jobs or seen their income reduced because of the coronavirus, the WCDA has distributed only $422,000, Hoversland said.
As a result, Gordon has approved several changes to the rules for the program, such as reducing the required co-pay for those receiving assistance from 30% of their rent or mortgage to 10%, increasing the maximum monthly payment from $2,000 to $3,000 and removing a restriction that eligible recipients have liquid assets of less than $10,000.
