Ohio lawmakers have recently approved a plan that could help prevent eviction issues. The lawmakers approved worth $161 million rental assistance program for tenants. Many people, however, believe that the Ohio rental stimulus checks won’t be that much help unless Gov. Mike DeWine vetoes a part of that bill that also includes this rental assistance program.
Rental Stimulus Checks From Ohio: Are They Going To Be A Big Help?
The General Assembly of Ohio approved a huge spending bill worth $6 billion. Most of the allotment came from American Rescue Plan Act for this huge bill.
The spending bill of Ohio includes $161 million to stop evictions. But, as per the bill, these rental stimulus checks from Ohio can be only applied for late payments incurred through the end of 2021.
Most lawmakers believe that the deadline of 2021 will make the rental assistance program useless. The lawmakers argued that there aren’t many families who would likely need this rental assistance if the 2021 deadline stays. It is because most residents with outstanding rent before Dec. 31, 2021, would have already moved out or have been evicted.
The people are desperate and need are late with their rent from sometime in 2022. Hence, a lot of organizations across the state are requesting Gov. DeWine to line-item veto the deadline part of the bill to make the rental assistance program more effective and trustable.
If no such changes are done, it could prevent the state from meeting federal spending deadlines. This could result in the redistributing of U.S. Treasury Department of federal money to other states.
Gov. DeWine is needed to sign or veto bills within 10 days of getting them but excluding Sundays or holidays.
Ohio’s Spending Bill: What Else Does It Also Include?
Well, it is said that apart from the rent and utility assistance, the $6 billion spending bill also allots money for many other segments. For example, the bill sets asides $1.75 billion for schools in Ohio.
Department of Jobs and Family Services is also directed by the Ohio bill to use about $500 million toward childcare. The bill allocates money worth $350 million to nursing homes toward workforce relief payments, as well as about $170 million for hospitals in Ohio.
Funds have been also set aside for many homes and community-based care programs, including an $85 million bill for behavioral health programs and $50 million to build up the PACE program.
The legislation has also allotted $150 million to support lead prevention of poisoning projects, as well as $25 million for food banks and another $5 million to the Children’s Hunger Alliance for providing meals to food-insecure and in-need children.
The spending bill also makes a new grant program that offers adoption bonuses between $10,000 and $20,000. The program for the fiscal year 2023 has also a bill set aside $15 million to administer.