Lorain, Elyria to get stimulus money

The cities of Lorain and Elyria will receive money from the first allocations in the federal government’s economic stimulus bill due to the novel coronavirus.

The city of Lorain will receive $725,720, while Elyria will receive $439,110 in Community Development Block Grant money, according to an announcement from Sen. Sherrod Brown.

On April 1, the Ohio Democratic senator announced the award of more than $137 million coming to Ohio communities through the federal U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

“This funding is a good first step for Ohioans already hurting from the affordable housing crisis,” Brown said. “But we need to do more and move quicker to get resources to the people who need help while we fight the coronavirus pandemic.”

Most of the money, $90.91 million, will be distributed as Community Development Block Grants. The cities of Lorain and Elyria will receive their allocations in this category, according to Brown’s office.

The money likely will be used to cover costs that depleted city budgets due to efforts to fight the spread of COVID-19, said Lorain Mayor Jack Bradley.

Late March 31, Bradley said he began receiving information about the money from Sen. Rob Portman, Ohio’s Republican senator, and Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Toledo.

“We hope these funds can be used to promote economic development in our community,” including housing assistance and related supporting services for low-income residents, Bradley said.

Additional money could be coming through an allocation to the Cleveland metropolitan area, he said.

The aid also highlights the importance of people completing the 2020 Census, Bradley said. Assistance for coronavirus is distributed based on Census results, he said.

“I just didn’t realize how important the Census was until we faced a disaster like we’re facing now,” the mayor said.

Elyria Mayor Frank Whitfield said he hoped to learn more in a conference call scheduled with Brown’s office April 2.

“Our biggest priority right now as a city is making sure our seniors are receiving the care that they need and that people are fed,” Whitfield said.

The money will be allocated as part of the coronavirus stimulus, which was signed into law last week, according to Brown’s office.

The money will include $45.61 million for Emergency Shelter Grants and $910,129 for support for the Housing Assistance for Persons With AIDS.

A recent Coalition on Housing and Homelessness in Ohio study reported on by Columbus Business First suggests that most Ohio communities lack the resources to protect the homeless population from the coronavirus.

According to the Coalition on Housing and Homelessness in Ohio study, only 46 percent of Ohio communities surveyed reported a joint response plan in place to help the homeless population amid the pandemic – only 22 percent surveyed said they had the resources they need to support homeless communities.

Brown