CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Residents at the Southern Comfort Inn were promised thousands of dollars in rental help from the NC HOPE Program but months later they’re still waiting on the money.
The motel’s manager, Traci Canterbury, said seven of her residents are waiting for money totaling more than $30,000.
She helped Deborah Massey apply for rent money through NC HOPE. In February, they got a letter saying Massey was approved for $7,500.
“We’re ecstatic,” Canterbury said. “We’re, like, OK, we’re going to get a little bit of money to help the costs. But nothing.”
[2nd application period opens for NC HOPE emergency rent, utility help]
Michelle Bulls and her husband also live at the motel. In January they were told they would get $5,000, but they haven’t received any money.
Channel 9′s Mark Becker investigated why the funds were not coming in and discovered that the claims should never have made it through the NC HOPE application process because people living in hotels and motels are not eligible for help through the program.
[Many say NC HOPE Program hasn’t followed through on promise to pay rent, utilities]
Julie Porter is with DreamKey Partners, the agency that handles the rental assistance program in Mecklenburg County. Porter said because of a system error the state computer system that processes the applications did not recognize that they were coming from a motel.
Now, DreamKey is working to resolve the issue and get people their money. Representatives have been at the Southern Comfort Inn to help Bulls and other residents file new applications for rent subsidies.
Porter said residents could have their rent subsidies within several weeks if there are no more issues.
“We certainly hope that we have money for as long as it takes to get people back on their feet,” she said.
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