NECAC Extends Rent-Assistance Period

NECAC is extending the application period for a federal rent-assistance program in 11 Missouri counties.

Income-qualifying applicants to the NECAC Housing Choice Voucher program will be placed on a waiting list. Counties covered are Lewis, Lincoln, Macon, Marion, Monroe, Montgomery, Pike, Ralls, Randolph, Shelby and Warren counties, and the Vandalia/Farber areas of Audrain County.

The waiting list was to close March 31 after being open for a month. NECAC decided to extend the deadline indefinitely due to a drop in applications.

"We're not sure what caused the decrease, but we know there are people out there who need the help," said NECAC's Dianna Clair, who oversees the program. "The applications are trickling in, but we need more people to apply. We just want to help as many as we can."

As of April 4, NECAC had received 1,118 applications since March 1. During open waiting lists periods in the past, the number has been as high as 1,000 a week.

NECAC contracts with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to administer the program, which provides partial rent payments to approved clients. Clair said disadvantaged people can then free up money for other needs.

People in the 11 counties can sign up at www.necac.org/waiting-list-lcpha. Elderly and disabled people who need assistance may call 573-324-2055 or a NECAC County Service Center.