!["Remember how desperate people were for assistance, you couldn't go to work. People were out of jobs, the [$490 thousand] could have been used."](https://media.tegna-media.com/assets/KFSM/images/cb6a93eb-3ea6-4f2b-8e8e-00d0b5b81aea/cb6a93eb-3ea6-4f2b-8e8e-00d0b5b81aea_1920x1080.jpg)
WASHINGTON COUNTY, ARKANSAS, Ark. — Washington County will return more than $490,000 in unused Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) money to the federal government, according to the recording of a committee meeting on March 12.
In January 2021, Washington County received money from the U.S. government for ERA grants during the COVID-19 pandemic and distributed over $9 million to residents. By March 2022, Washington County Justice of the Peace Beth Coger said some ERA applicants were sent denials from the county citing a lack of funds.
However, in the last few weeks, Coger said she noticed over $490,000 in unallocated ERA money after a church contacted her in an attempt to apply. And, according to the ERA grant policy issued by the U.S., any unallocated money before a certain date needed to be returned. That deadline was September 2022.
"Remember how desperate people were for assistance? You couldn't go to work. People were out of jobs, that money could have been used," said Coger. "I think it's safe to say it could have helped over 400 families stay in their homes for several months."
When asked about the ERA money in the meeting, Washington County Treasurer Bobby Hill can be heard saying "We're in the process of closing that out," when asked how that process works he responded, "That's a good question."
5NEWS reached out to the office of Washington County Judge Patrick Deakins, and a spokesperson told us the deadline to use those funds was during the previous judge's administration. Deakins said in the March 12 meeting that the county is waiting on instructions from the U.S. Government on how to return the money.
5NEWS will update this article as more information about the ERA money is discovered.
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