Letter to the Hon. Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero, Governor of Guam - Congressman San Nicolas Advises CARES Act Funds be Used for Rent Assistance

Letter

Dear Governor Leon Guerrero:

Whilst our island is working to recover from the economic hardships resulting from COVID-19 that have greatly impacted the people of Guam, I write urging your administration to consider utilizing federal pandemic relief funding appropriated by Congress in the CARES Act for direct rent assistance to our local families.

Federally we have rental and mortgage assistance in the pipeline comprehensively with the HEROES Act and separately as a standalone measure in H.R. 7301, both of which await action in the Senate after passing the House. We continue to press for this federally, but encourage local action using CARES Act funds as these are readily available.

Other jurisdictions are demonstrating proven efforts utilizing CARES Act funds to provide immediate relief to its residents through rental assistance programs, particularly those who are at high risk of homelessness due to changes in employment circumstances directly related to COVID-19.

One such framework would allow the Guam Housing and Urban Renewal Authority to accept local applications for grants for rental or mortgage assistance. Grants could be restricted to those residents who can provide evidence of COVID-related hardship in paying at least one-month of rent or mortgage payments. Grant checks would be sent directly to grantee landlords to guarantee funds are appropriately used for its intended purpose.

As an example of local governments able to extend such renter relief, I have attached the plans the City of Irvine voted to implement. As an illustrative model of the ability for localities to utilize CARES Act funds for residential rental assistance, I hope that this will inspire our local government to immediately consider plans to do so with eviction moratoriums, federal pandemic unemployment boosters, and many forbearance agreements expiring within the next 30/60/90 days.

We must not wait for a greater Guam housing crisis to bloom from COVID-19.

Source