Connecticut too slow protecting renters

The economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic cannot be overstated. In Connecticut, only about 85 percent of the thousands of jobs lost in the spring have returned as the service sector, in particular, has yet to rebound. It’s hard to make the rent without a paycheck and with only unemployment benefits to cover food and everything else.

Considering the serious effect on otherwise working families, it is appalling — and inexcusable — that the state program designed to help those struggling to pay the rent has given aid to only two families.

With a backlog of nearly 7,400 applications a total of two have been helped in the five months of the program, as of last week. The lack is staggering.

The need is there. Nearly 30,000 applied for the program, which would give $4,000 for rent payments, but the majority were rejected in the preapproval process.

So many people applied that the state Department of Labor stopped taking applications on Aug. 28, six weeks after the program started. As it is, the state has enough funding — $20 million from the federal CARES Act — to provide aid to only 5,000 families.

In every way, resources in the program are inadequate to protect renters and, by extension, help landlords.

The solutions are obvious, but not readily achieved — provide more workers in DOL to review the applications and allocate more funding.

The situation is so dire that nine Democratic state senators wrote to Gov. Ned Lamont on Sept. 18 urging another $10 million be earmarked for the Temporary Rental Housing Assistance Program.

“This backlog is causing families to be harmed,” said state Sen. Saud Anwar, D-South Windsor, who signed the letter and is co-chairman of the General Assembly’s Housing Committee. “We should take care of the vulnerable first, and I am not seeing that from the administration.”

The Democratic governor’s spokesman said the administration intends to put more money into the program and is working to speed up the process. We need more definitive information.

The administration should have gone into action sooner with the early closing of applications a warning sign of a large problem brewing. Halting applications does not make the reality of people unable to make the rent go away.

As it is, some of the requirements to receive rent relief are arduous. Though likely intended to discourage fraud, they make it difficult for those who truly need help. For example, they must provide a promise from the landlord that the $4,000 would wipe away outstanding rent.

The nine senators suggested in their letter to “reassess and ease the requirements for tenants to access homelessness prevention resources.”

Last month the U.S. Census Bureau reported that 20 percent of the tenants in Connecticut were behind on their rent; renters typically earn less than half that of homeowners.

The coronavirus pandemic has wrought extraordinary times and challenges. But efforts must be stepped up to help families maintain the basic necessity of shelter.

It is appalling — and inexcusable — that the state program designed to help those struggling to pay the rent has given aid to only two families.