The new deadline for the Haines Borough’s household CARES Act grants is Aug. 28 at 5 p.m. The assembly extended the Aug. 14 deadline at a meeting on Tuesday.
At the same meeting, the assembly voted to fully fund the program and begin distributing grant amounts as soon as possible.
Through the program, a household can request up to $900 in utility, rent and moorage assistance, paid directly to the utility company or landlord. An additional $100 credit for Community Waste Solutions will be provided to all successful applicants.
The assembly initially earmarked $300,000 in federal CARES Act dollars for the program with the plan to reduce grant amounts proportionally if requests exceeded available money. As of Tuesday, the borough had received 223 grant requests, most for the full $1,000.
Applications are limited to one per physical address. To qualify for the program, applicants must spend at least half the year in Haines, have suffered economic hardship as a result of COVID-19 and be in need of economic assistance. Applicants will be asked to describe on the application the economic losses they have suffered.
At Tuesday’s meeting, assembly members noted that most households in Haines are eligible for the program, even those that might not think they qualify. Members used the example of fishermen, who still have work this summer, but are facing reduced prices as a result of COVID-19.
The application for household grants is web-based. Residents can access the online form at https://www.hainesalaska.gov/haines-borough-cares-household-economic-relief-utility-rent-moorage-assistance-application.
For those who require assistance, staff will be available to help at the library Mondays and Tuesdays, 10 a.m.-12 p.m .; Wednesdays, 3-5 p.m .; Thursdays, 1:15-3:15 p.m. and all open hours on weekends. Those with questions can also contact the borough at [email protected] or 766-6400.