Rep. Brown: $465 million for COVID-19 rent and utility assistance signed into law

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Richard Brown (D-Canal Winchester) today announced that House Bill (HB) 167, COVID-19 relief legislation that will deliver $465 million in direct aid for rent and utility assistance, was signed into law. House Democrats have called for rent and utility relief since the onset of the pandemic, introducing bills that would have created a program for immediate rental assistance, postponed evictions and foreclosures during the COVID-19 pandemic, and prevented utility shutoffs during an emergency.

“While I would have greatly preferred that this aid be released from the outset of this pandemic, I was proud to vote ‘yes’ on House Bill 167,” said Rep. Brown. “Ohioans deserve to know that their government is working for them, and finally providing needed rent relief is a positive development. We must continue to do more to help our constituents build back from this pandemic.” 

Democrats, however, did express concerns about Republicans delaying the release of the funding, which was originally included in the federal CARES Act, which passed in March 2020, as well as the federal Consolidated Appropriations Act, which passed in Dec. 2020.

HB 167 also includes $100 million for federal disaster assistance.