Battle over federal rental aid to Nebraska stirs up again

LINCOLN, Neb. (Nebraska Examiner) -The battle reignited Friday over whether or not Nebraska ought to settle for extra federal emergency rental support, with the U.S. Treasury Division getting into the fray.

Deputy Treasury Secretary Adewale Adeyemo wrote a letter to Gov. Pete Ricketts, expressing his disappointment and urging the governor to attract down on the $120 million account Congress had put aside for Nebraska on behalf of “tens of 1000’s” of households in want of help.

Adeyemo stated a lot of Nebraska’s state legislators, leaders and housing advocates have underscored the “important want … particularly in rural areas and small communities that would not have entry to different rental help packages inside the state.”

The Biden administration official stated he echoed these sentiments, having seen this system’s success elsewhere in stopping evictions of susceptible communities.

‘Want clearly exists’

“That want clearly exists in Nebraska,” Adeyemo wrote. “In keeping with the Nationwide Low Revenue Housing Coalition, 21% of Nebraska renters are extraordinarily low revenue, and 65% of this group are severely price burdened.”

A Ricketts spokeswoman stated late Friday morning that the governor had not but acquired the letter, although the Treasury spokeswoman stated it had been despatched.

The governor has stood agency for months on his refusal to just accept the funds. He has stated that the pandemic storm is over and that Nebraska ought to guard in opposition to changing into a “welfare state.”

Many state senators agreed with the governor.

The letter was one other wrinkle in an ongoing saga over the second spherical of federal Emergency Rental Help Program funding. Earlier this month, Nebraska lawmakers fell one vote in need of overriding Ricketts’ veto on federal rental assist. That meant the state’s extra rural and smaller cities exterior of Douglas and Lancaster Counties wouldn’t get any of what had changed into a controversial $120 million pot of support.

Treasury gives choices

State Sen. Matt Hansen of Lincoln had led a push to override the governor’s veto, and for the state to just accept the assistance.

He stated it was the smaller, extra rural communities exterior the 2 largest counties that might be shut out of second-round funds out there by way of ERAP. A big half, about 60%, of the $120 million nonetheless doubtless could be directed to Douglas and Lancaster Counties.

Adeyemo stated that if Nebraska believed the funding is bigger than the quantity it may successfully administer straight, the Treasury Division may present recommendation on choices out there after the state drew down the 40% of funding.

Amongst these choices, he stated within the letter, are subcontracting with suppliers in rural communities to straight administer the funds.

Adeyemo stated the funds Congress put aside for Nebraska may serve tens of 1000’s of households, “serving to these households keep away from eviction and the numerous penalties of shedding their properties, together with harms to their well being, monetary stability and employment.”

‘Lifelines’

His letter stated that past rental help, the second spherical of ERAP can be utilized to spend money on a “broad vary” of housing stability providers that might assist Nebraskans keep of their properties, equivalent to authorized illustration or court-based eviction diversion packages. He known as these “lifelines for a lot of susceptible renters at nice threat,” and named populations equivalent to veterans, older Individuals on fastened incomes, youths exiting foster care and survivors of home abuse or human trafficking.

“We can be found to work with you to offer any technical help we will to assist attain Nebraska renters to advertise housing stability and guarantee an equitable restoration,” Adeyemo stated within the letter.

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