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Local emergency rental provider asks county for $7,500 to extend short-term aid
Summary
Lee Fleming of the local rental-assistance nonprofit said the organization helped several families avoid homelessness last year and is requesting $7,500 to expand monthly rent assistance; the group uses state Neighbor Investment Program tax credits to leverage donations.
Lee Fleming, the newly named president of the board for the local rental-assistance nonprofit, told commissioners the group used a $5,000 county award last year to keep about seven families in their homes for an extra 30 days and is requesting $7,500 for the coming year.
“Last year… that was very helpful. It helped keep about 7 families an additional 30 days while they worked out their budget,” Fleming said, explaining the organization’s core service is short-term rental assistance to prevent eviction. She said clients may access aid once every five years under the nonprofit’s policy and that the group’s overall operating budget is roughly $28,000.
Fleming described the nonprofit’s use of the Neighborhood Investment Program (NIP), a state tax-credit program that provides donors with tax credits for contributions to qualifying local nonprofits. She said NIP credits are provided at a 50% rate as described in the meeting and that the nonprofit uses the combined donations and NIP credits as part of its general operating budget.
The group operates from the basement of Otterbein (Amethyst) Church, Fleming said, and receives food donations, Mountaineer Food Bank allotments and other community support. Commissioners asked operational questions — including whether the organization provides hotel lodging (it does not) and whether it assists homeowners (it provides rent-only support) — and Fleming clarified the charity pays landlords directly and requires an eviction notice as a condition of assistance.
No formal appropriation was made during the meeting; commissioners said they were reviewing submitted budget materials and would consider the request in their grant review process.
