Work came to a sudden stop for Ashley Davidson when the state ordered bars and restaurants closed in March. Now the bartender finds herself about four months behind in rent on her Dayton townhouse.
Five days ago, Davidson got a notice that she had three days to vacate — while both she and her 4-year-daughter Sophia test positive for COVID-19.
“I can’t leave even if I wanted to because I’m in quarantine,” she said. “Other than going to the doctor, I’m not leaving my home.”
Davidson was only back to her job at Newcom’s Tavern and the Fairborn Moose Lodge a little over two weeks before she tested positive. At first she thought she had allergies, but the sickness progressed into many symptoms associated with the virus and kept her bedridden for eight days.
Because of Sophia’s positive test, they need to stay quarantined possibly weeks longer so she can’t turn to family members and put them at risk.
“I don’t know what we would do,” she said. “We would probably be in a hotel.”
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Davidson, who responded to an online Dayton Daily News survey, said she plans to sign up for the rental help announced Tuesday.
Her strength is slowly returning but Davidson said she still has “a terrific cough” and her senses of taste and smell haven’t returned.
“I feel very depressed,” she said. “A few days ago, I wanted to give up.”
The county programs are available to people who experienced a loss of income after March 1, 2020 due to the pandemic. The loss of income could have been caused by a layoff, reduced work hours, furlough or reduction in pay, according to the county.
Residents can also apply for a program to help those behind in gas, electric, water or bulk fuel utility payments.
The HomeOwnership Center, a program of County Corp, is administering the mortgage program, while Miami Valley Community Action Partnership is administering the programs for rent and utilities.
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Nearly 39% of Montgomery County’s housing units are occupied by renters and 61% are owner occupied. The remainder were vacant as of 2018, according to Ohio Development Services Agency data.
In Montgomery County, for the week ending July 4, there were 1,639 first-time claims for unemployment benefits, with 21,106 claims continuing from previous weeks.
More than 1,000 households are already in the que for rental assistance at Miami Valley Community Action Partnership, said Lisa Stempler, president and CEO.
“We’re getting people that are applying for assistance who have never applied for any kind of assistance in their life,” she said. “This is the system that they are not familiar with, so we’re really mindful of that.”
Stephanie Green said her family has been fortunate they can still purchase food but payment of the rent and utility bills started to slide after three of her adult children who live at home and shared housing expenses all lost jobs during the pandemic.
“It’s a struggle when you have a full working household and everyone contributing, and that ended and it’s just one income,” she said “It’s hard to maintain the bills. Just paying something on them, that’s been hard to do.”
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Green, an administrative assistant, has kept her job and works from their Madden Hills home. Work dried up for one daughter, an entrepreneur who sold clothes online. A son was laid off from a manufacturing plant and another daughter went without work when her hair and nail salon closed.
The new programs may just help the family “get caught up,” said Green, who also responded to the Dayton Daily news survey.
In addition to the $10 million housing program, commissioners on Tuesday also approved a program for eligible nonprofits to receive grants up to $100,000 and another to offer grants up to $1 million to qualifying educational institutions.
Montgomery County received an initial allotment of $92.77 million in CARES Act funding from the U.S. Treasury. County commissioners created the temporary Office of CARES Act to stand up programs and distribute the funds.
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Taylor Darner of Miamisburg said was out of work for months from her job at a tanning salon and only returned to working 20 hours a week. At $9 an hour, she said that doesn’t go far.
“I’ve been looking for something that’s obviously way better pay,” Darner said. “But nobody is really hiring.”
Darner and her partner, former UD basketball player Kyle Davis, rent an apartment in Miamisburg where they live with their 7-year-old girl. She said they have fallen behind on rent and late fees continue to mount.
Darner is worried about being evicted, but it hasn’t come to that yet.
“I’ve tried to penny-pinch as much as possible. And so is Kyle,” she said. “We try to stay afloat as much as we possibly can and don’t drown ourselves in bills.”
Darner said she would apply for the rental assistance program.
“Some help is better than no help at all,” Darner said.
Stempler said other funds may be available for rental assistance after the first of the year, but the federal CARES Act money runs out at the end of year, Stempler said.
“We know the need’s not going to end on December 31,” she said. “That’s a real concern that we have.”
Montgomery County launched three programs on Tuesday to assist people behind in mortgage, rent and utility payments. Eligibility for each program requires a loss of employment income after March 1 due to COVID-19. The loss of income could have been caused by a layoff, reduced work hours, furlough or reduction in pay.
Mortgage Assistance Program
The HomeOwnership Center, a program of County Corp, is administering the Mortgage Assistance Program, which can help residents bring mortgage payments current.
Montgomery County residents may qualify for mortgage relief if you:
- Own a home in Montgomery County with an original mortgage of $200,000 or less.
- Behind on mortgage on or after March 1.
- Applicants will be required to complete an application, provide required documentation, and discuss the circumstances with HomeOwnership Center staff as well as participate in follow-up with HomeOwnership Center staff about financial and mortgage status.
Rental Assistance Program
Miami Valley Community Action Partnership is administering the Rental Assistance Program, which can help catch up on rental payments.
Renters may qualify for relief if you:
- Rent your residence in Montgomery County.
- Behind on rent on or after March 1, 2020.
- Complete the application available on Miami Valley CAP’s website. An intake specialist will follow-up on applications and ask for additional documentation.
Utility Assistance Program
Residents may also qualify for financial assistance with gas, electric, or bulk fuel utility payments due to loss of income caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Residents can also sign up at www.mcohiocares.org for email alerts about the programs, including upcoming financial aid programs for agriculture, education, nonprofits or healthcare institutions.
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