Skagit County offers mortgage assistance

Oct 07, 20200

A new mortgage assistance program to assist low-income homeowners impacted by the COVID-19 economic downturn is available from the Skagit County government.

This program is for homeowners who have lost income due to COVID-19 and are currently at 50 percent or below of area median income. The threshold is $2,617 per month for a household of two, or $3,267 per month for a household of four. Additional eligibility criteria can be found on the application. The program can assist with up to $6,000 in past due mortgage payments, excluding escrow payment.

The program is offered on a first qualified, first served basis until Nov. 23 or until funds are expended.

Skagit County continues to make investments using federal CARES Act funds, including the mortgage assistance program. The Skagit County Commissioners are planning further investments in the education and childcare sectors. This summer, the Commissioners allocated nearly $1,000,000 in small business assistance using CARES funding.

Applications must be hand delivered or mailed to: Skagit County Public Health, 700 South Second Street, Rm. 301, Mount Vernon, WA 98273

For application materials and more information, contact Public Health: 360-416-1500, www.skagitcounty.net/Departments/Health.

Source: Skagit County government

Call County for rental assistance

Skagit County has $1.4 million for eviction rent assistance to assist low-i

Skagit County is partnering with four local agencies to help serve the diverse populations in Skagit County:

• Samish Indian Nation received $75,000 targeted for tribal members. Call 360-726-3366

• For Section 8 housing voucher holders and farmworkers, the Housing Authority of Skagit County has $77,970 Call the Housing Authority at 360-424-8655.

• For farmworkers and families in Catholic Community Services (CCS) apartments, the CCS Farmworker program received $395,360. For Spanish-language information and assistance, contact Aileen Gonzalez at 360-428-1959 ext. 200. For English-language information and assistance, contact Alice Marshall at 360-418-1959 ext. 202.

• For the larger community, Community Action of Skagit County has $836,343. Contact Community Action at 360-399-3006.

Groups of people who have historically been denied equitable access to rent assistance and those who have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak will be prioritized. Basic eligibility requirements include households behind on or unable to pay current rent. The household must also be low income, defined as 50 percent or below of area median income (AMI). For a household of two, AMI is $2,617 per month, for a family of four AMI is $3,267 per month.

The program is first come, first served and will operate until Dec. 31 or until funds are exhausted.

Direct questions on the application to the servicing agency. For questions about the program in general, call Skagit County Public Health at 360-416-1500.

Source: Skagit County government