CARES Relief Funds for utility, rent and mortgage payments for East Tennessee residents

 

People across East Tennessee, and the country, are reeling from the impact of Covid-19, unable to pay bills and struggling to find employment. 

 

East Tennessee (October 2020) – COVID-19 Emergency Relief funds are available to assist East Tennessee residents in Knox, Blount, Anderson, Jefferson, and Sevier Counties with paying utility bills, rent, and mortgage payments. Approval is not income-based, but on a resident’s inability to pay due to circumstances brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. It includes incidence such as; a decrease or loss of income, changes in the household such as homeschooling, daycare, illness, and any circumstance brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic as far back as March 2020.

The Knoxville Area Urban League (KAUL) offers assistance with rent mortgage and utility payments for residents in Knox Blount, Anderson, Jefferson, and Sevier Counties. The deadline to apply is Nov. 13, 2020. The application, details to qualify are available on the website here.

The Urban League is ready to serve you.  Due to COVID-19 restrictions, our facility is open to the public BY APPOINTMENT ONLY.  MASKS REQUIRED!   For assistance and to make appointments, please email;  info@thekaul.org or call (865) 524-5511.  How can we help you?

The Knoxville-Knox County Community Action Committee (KCAC) has CARES Utility Funds designated to help pay past-due utility bills of Knox County residents. Knox County households that have lost income due to COVID-19 are encouraged to apply for funds available to pay residential utility bills which include those on a payment plan. The deadline to apply is Tuesday, Nov. 10 and will be distributed on a first-come basis.

These funds are not tied to income. Individuals and households of any income level should apply if your household has been affected by COVID-19 in one of the following ways:

• Job loss, reduction of hours or wages due to COVID-19
• Missed work to care for a family member or child due to illness, school closure, or online learning due to COVID-19
• Missed work to care for an adult family member or relative diagnosed with COVID-19
• COVID-19-related out-of-pocket medical expense
• Unable to find employment due to COVID-19

Download the application form here. Then send the completed application; a copy of the applicant’s driver’s license or photo ID; a copy of the most recent utility bill(s); and documentation of the COVID-19-related income loss by using one of the following methods:

E-mail: CARES.intake@knoxcac.org; or

Mail: Knox CAC West Neighborhood Center, P.O. Box 51650, Knoxville, TN 37950; or

Drop off: CARES dropbox near the main entrance of the L.T. Ross Building, 2247 Western Avenue, Knoxville, 37921. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:45 p.m.

For additional information or support, call the CAC Neighborhood Center nearest you:

• West/Central/North: 865-524-3345
• East/South: 865-546-5125

This service is offered to Knox County residents by CAC and its community partner Community Action for Affordable Neighborhoods (CAAN). This project is financially supported under a grant contract with the State of Tennessee.

 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Tennessee ranks 4th in the nation in senior hunger, with about 150,000 older Tennesseans living in a state of insecurity regarding food.

CAC Office on Aging (OOA)  Learn more about services available from the State of Tennessee for families, adults, physical or mentally disadvantaged, and adult services visit here.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Adults over age 60 can apply. For more information, visit CAC Office On Aging and click the Benefits CheckUp badge.