Two million dollars in grant funds have been made available to Washington Gorge Action Programs to help prevent evictions of low income households affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in Skamania and Klickitat Counties. Funds come from the Federal Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act. The Treasury Rental Assistance Program is being administered by Washington State Department of Commerce, and are intended to prevent evictions that would contribute to the spread of the virus by paying past due, current due, future rent, and utilities, targeting limited resources to those who have experienced financial hardship due to the COVID-19 outbreak and are at risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability. Households must meet three criteria: Have income that is at or below 80% of Area Median Income, be experiencing a financial hardship directly or indirectly due to the COVID-19 outbreak that threatens the household’s ability to pay the costs of the rental property when due, and be at risk of experiencing homelessness or currently experiencing housing instability. The program also provides assistance with rental payments that are past due, and with unpaid utility and home energy costs, including electricity, gas, water and sewer, trash removal and energy costs, such as fuel oil. To learn if you are eligible or to request an application contact WAGAP at (509) 493-2662 or email info@wagap.org.