Rent relief resolution proposed in Utica

Two Common Council members are urging the city to use part of stimulus funding for a rental assistance program.

Introduced a resolution to the council and mayor palmieri, that would provide rental assistance to those in need.

Celeste friend, delvin moody and citizen action say they don't want to see homelessness increase.

Utica is slated to get 1 point 48 million dollars in federal stimulus money, and friend and moody want to use some of that money to help people pay rent.

Moody says: "but if you're low income, or working middle class or whatever and as councilmember friend said we might not spend the whole thing, but if you can provide proof and have evidence that you've been negatively affected by the coronavirus, laid off, unemployed, furloughed or cannot pay your rent regardless of who you are, then there's things out there to help you.

Celeste says: i would actually argue that that is the most fiscally responsible thing for the city to do+, to spend money now to keep people in their homes rather than havong to spend a lot more money down the road to help people find new homes and to find their way out of homelessness."

Moody says council will meet next week to discuss the legislation.

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