GONZALES — City of Gonzales provided a total of $41,700 in grant funds to residents to assist with rental and mortgage payments.
The City received the funds through the Community Foundation for Monterey County (CFMC) and the CARES and Emergency Food and Shelter Program through United Way of Monterey County (UWMC).
A total of 33 low income families (totaling 129 individuals) living below the 200% poverty level were assisted with a rent payment. The funds guaranteed them an additional 30 days of housing.
One grant beneficiary stated, “I don’t know what I would have done without this support because really, I am out of options at this point. I couldn’t pay my rent and was going to resort to just leaving the apartment because I can’t do it anymore.”
The City of Gonzales started pursuing grant funding opportunities after hearing of seniors renting rooms in local housing who feared not having a place to live due to their inability to pay their rents. Many single moms with three to four children were struggling because hours at work had been cut and there were a few families who had to stop working and isolate due to exposure to Covid-19.
“We are extremely grateful to the United Way of Monterey County and their local leadership team as well as to the Community Foundation for Monterey County for providing this critical support for our families,” said Carmen Gil, director of Community Engagement and Strategic Partnerships for the City of Gonzales.
All available funds received from the UWMC and CFMC have been distributed. The city is currently looking for additional support to help continue this program to assist additional residents with rental and mortgage assistance.
For more information, call city hall at 831-675-5000 or visit www.gonzalesca.gov.
