HUNTSVILLE — The city of Huntsville reaffirmed its commitment to affordable housing with a $2.7 million grant to Huntsville Housing Helps, a rental and utility assistance program serving residents in need.

At its meeting Thursday, the Huntsville City Council approved a resolution to transfer $2.7 million in U.S. Treasury funds to the Catholic Center of Concern, which administers the Huntsville Housing Helps program. Launched in 2022, the initiative, created by the City of Huntsville, provides financial relief for low-income residents.

“This is another step in ensuring affordable housing is available for everyone in our community,” said Scott Erwin, manager of Community Development for the city. “Housing insecurity is a complex challenge, but through collaborative partnerships like this one, we can provide real, immediate support to those who need it most. Our goal is to help families stay in their homes, keep the lights on and avoid the compounding stress of eviction or utility shutoffs.”

Huntsville Housing Helps was established as a long-term replacement for the City’s COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program, which delivered millions in aid during the pandemic. The program targets residents within Huntsville city limits whose household incomes do not exceed 50% of the Area Median Income.

Qualifying residents can apply for assistance by completing an application at  HuntsvilleHousingHelps.com.