{"id":2457905,"date":"2020-05-01T00:16:01","date_gmt":"2020-05-01T06:16:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/aspens-next-1m-for-rent-relief-being-rolled-out-for-residents\/"},"modified":"2020-05-01T00:16:01","modified_gmt":"2020-05-01T06:16:01","slug":"aspens-next-1m-for-rent-relief-being-rolled-out-for-residents","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/local-news\/aspens-next-1m-for-rent-relief-being-rolled-out-for-residents\/","title":{"rendered":"Aspen\u2019s next $1M for rent relief being rolled out for residents"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure class=\"wp-block-image p402_hide\">\n<div class=\"caption-container\"> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"676\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/APCHArentrelief-atd-050120-1-1024x676.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-post-image\" alt srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/APCHArentrelief-atd-050120-1-1024x676.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/APCHArentrelief-atd-050120-1-300x198.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/APCHArentrelief-atd-050120-1-768x507.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/APCHArentrelief-atd-050120-1-1536x1015.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/APCHArentrelief-atd-050120-1-2048x1353.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption><strong>Olivia Fagre, 5, plays in a hammock outside of the Truscott Aparments in Aspen on Thursday, April 30, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/><em>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/em><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText DropCap\">The city of Aspen\u2019s latest multimillion-dollar contribution toward COVID-19 relief efforts is focused on those who need help with rent or mortgages that live in Aspen-Pitkin County Housing Authority deed-restricted units.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Aspen City Council last month earmarked $1.5 million from its housing fund for rent relief as part of an overall <a id=\"N0x1d37be0N0x1da93e0:N0x1d37be0N0x1f884b8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/aspen-electeds-make-historic-vote-for-5m-covid-19-emergency-relief-stimulus-package\/\">$6 million response package<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">It will be administered through <a id=\"N0x1d37be0N0x1da9440:N0x1d37be0N0x1f885d8\" href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/forms\/d\/e\/1FAIpQLSdGPb-hMgfJJNoemUHfa1CxTkP6OVP92yhOzEp08ViDgTsONQ\/viewform\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Pitkin County\u2019s human services COVID relief fund<\/a><i class=\"fas fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i>, which was established almost immediately after stay-at-home public health orders were issued in March, effectively shutting down the local economy to slow the spread of the disease.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The county will be billing the city biweekly, after it awards people who qualify for rent assistance.<\/p>\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col\" readability=\"6\">\n<div class=\"row at-donation at-donation-mobile p-0\" readability=\"7\">\n<div class=\"col-xl-4 p-2\">\n<div data-bg=\"url(https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/AT-logo-white.png)\" class=\"p-0 mt-2 mb-2 h-75 text-center rocket-lazyload\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/AT-logo-white.png\" class=\"logo m-0 p-0 invisible\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><h3 class=\"d-inline mr-3\">Support Local Journalism<\/h3>\n<p><button class=\"btn d-inline\" type=\"button\" onclick=\"handleDonationButtonClickMidArticle()\">Donate<\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">City Finance Director Pete Strecker said it\u2019s most efficient and effective to let the county administer the rent-relief program, since it\u2019s already set up.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cThat seemed like a natural way to get the money out the door,\u201d he said Thursday, adding that rent relief for individuals is a significant part of the city\u2019s multifaceted COVID-19 response. \u201cThe workforce is something that the city wanted to focus on because they are a crucial component to a second phase\u201d of opening the economy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">As of Thursday afternoon, the county relief fund had awarded more than $1.65 million to a total of 2,307 individuals with an average of $1,148 per household.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Roughly $1.3 million has gone to assisting people with shelter, according to Nan Sundeen, the county\u2019s human services director.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">She said to stretch the dollars more, while recognizing that Friday is May 1 when rent is due, the amount doled out will be reduced to a maximum of $1,350 for a household of up to two people, and $1,800 for households of three or more.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Pitkin County Manager Jon Peacock said of those who have qualified for mortgage or rent assistance, 25% have been in APCHA deed-restricted housing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Sundeen said those applying for shelter assistance will qualify under the county\u2019s criteria, which is based on a number of factors that play out during the application process, including if individuals are seeking other assistance through other local, state and federal programs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">She said she is working with the city and APCHA to confirm that applicants are living in deed-restricted units in the affordable housing program.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cThere is a bureaucratic process knowing where all of those units are,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The city\u2019s total contribution to the county\u2019s relief fund now stands at $2 million.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The municipal government first gave $200,000 in March from the general fund to provide financial relief to city of Aspen residents for housing, utility, food and child care assistance.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The city put another $300,000 from the general fund into the county fund for general relief last month.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">That fund also is backed by the county\u2019s $1 million; the town of Snowmass contributed $200,000; and private donors also provided $200,000.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">All total, more than $3 million will be distributed to area residents through the county fund.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Peacock said it\u2019s designed as a bridge to the next phase \u2014 from the COVID-19 response to recovery.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cWe can\u2019t sustain a $1.8 million-a-month burn rate,\u201d he said, adding that the county and city are not getting any financial assistance from the state and federal governments.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Government officials recognize that it will be a tough summer and fall financially for workers who may be unemployed as a result of COVID-19, and the relief fund could be tapped out.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cPeople need to start talking to their landlords if they can\u2019t pay,\u201d Sundeen said, adding that there is other assistance available. \u201cWe need to get people to apply for unemployment and most people qualify for (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program).<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cThe time to apply is now.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">APCHA <a id=\"N0x1d37be0N0x1da9560:N0x1d37be0N0x1f89238\" href=\"https:\/\/www.apcha.org\/DocumentCenter\/View\/1319\/2020-04-16-APCHA-COVID-19-Guidance?bidId=\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">has issued COVID-19 guidelines<\/a><i class=\"fas fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i> for homeowners and renters so they know what is expected of them during the crisis.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The city, which owns 236 units at Truscott, Aspen Country Inn and at the base of Smuggler Mountain, allowed April rent to be deferred and paid within six months.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">APCHA Executive Director Mike Kosdrosky said six people have <a id=\"N0x1d37be0N0x1da95c0:N0x1d37be0N0x1f893e8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/aspen-housing-authority-weighs-more-relief-for-tenants-dealing-with-covid-19-crisis\/\">requested a deferral<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cWe are looking at offering it for May but with the emergency financial assistance available for those needing help paying rent, we may forgo it,\u201d he said. \u201cThat decision is forthcoming.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Peacock lauded the city for its contributions for offering staff for the public health department\u2019s incident management team and its financial assistance thus far.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cThe city has put up a tremendous amount of funding,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The city also set aside up <a id=\"N0x1d37be0N0x1da9620:N0x1d37be0N0x1f896b8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/dozens-of-aspen-businesses-apply-for-covid-19-rent-relief-on-first-day-of-program-rollout\/\">to $1 million for rent relief for Aspen businesses<\/a>. As of Thursday afternoon, 114 businesses had applied, according to Strecker.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">A committee is almost formed that will review the applications, and then grant money based on a set of criteria.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The offering is equal to one-third the monthly rent of a business for as many as three months and is good from April to July.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Businesses that are eligible for rent relief must have a landlord who is willing to also pay a third of the rent, with the tenant paying the remainder.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">As part of its $6 million relief and economic stimulus package, Aspen City Council earmarked another $2.5 million out of the general fund for money to be distributed through the Aspen Community Foundation, as well as to area nonprofits that provide legal aid and mental health services, and community-at-large COVID-19 testing and personal protective equipment for health care workers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Because the general fund does not have sufficient balances, the city borrowed from the Wheeler Opera House fund, which has roughly $33 million in it and is paid for with real estate transfer taxes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">It will have to be paid back over 10 years at an interest rate between 0.3% and 0.62%.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Also part of the package is the city\u2019s $1 million from the Kids First child care fund which, like the housing fund, has enough reserves to cover the expenditures, according to city officials.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">These relief efforts are being done as the city braces for major financial cutbacks because of an estimated $13 million in lost revenue in sales and lodging taxes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">City Council is expected to discuss budget cuts Monday at its work session.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText Tagline\"><a href=\"mailto:csackariason@aspentimes.com\">csackariason@aspentimes.com<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/local\/aspens-next-1m-for-rent-relief-being-rolled-out-for-residents\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">via:: The Aspen Times<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Olivia Fagre, 5, plays in a hammock outside of the Truscott Aparments in Aspen on Thursday, April 30, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times The city of Aspen\u2019s latest multimillion-dollar contribution toward COVID-19 relief efforts is focused on those who need help with rent or mortgages that live in Aspen-Pitkin County Housing Authority [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2457905","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-local-news"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-08-17 21:02:00","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"KSPN The Valley&#039;s Quality Rock","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2457905","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2457905"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2457905\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2457905"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2457905"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2457905"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}