ESCANABA — With the announcement of the end of the Federal Eviction Moratorium, The Salvation Army is ready to assist people who are facing eviction. $20,000 has been made available through the EFSP-CARES act to assist families facing homelessness due to past due rent or mortgage payments.

“These are unprecedented times, and many families who have been affected by loss of jobs, or cutback in hours due to the COVID-19 pandemic need additional help as we get back to the new normal,” said Captain Doug Winters, regional coordinator for The Salvation Army in the central U.P. “This is a practical way to combat homelessness by keeping people in their homes.”

The assistance will help combat the burden placed on the seasonal homeless sheltering program in Escanaba administered by The Salvation Army, along with the shelters in Marquette County by reducing the number of people left without housing.

The urgency to help is coming straight from The Salvation Army’s National office as well. The Salvation Army issued this statement today regarding the ending of the federal eviction moratorium:

“On behalf of the 30 million people we serve in the United States each year, The Salvation Army believes that the most important action we can take to assist vulnerable individuals is to help keep them in their homes to prevent a new wave of homelessness. Currently, the federal government estimates that 1.2 million households are ‘very likely’ to face eviction for the nonpayment of rent over the next two months. In addition, The Salvation Army has seen increased requests for financial services over the past 18 months that indicate an already strained population of people in need. The distribution of federal aid intended to help them has moved slowly, and social service organizations are working with reduced resources. Despite these factors, The Salvation Army is committed to assisting everyone who comes through our doors, and we ask those who can help us ensure hope marches on for the most vulnerable in our communities after the eviction moratorium ends,” the statement read.

Federal guidelines must be followed to disburse these funds. Recipients must have filed with DHHS SER and have other specific documentation. To facilitate this assistance, The Salvation Army is asking residents to email WUM.Escanaba@usc.salvationarmy.org.

Phone calls cannot be accepted for the CARES funding due to the documentation requirements. The Salvation Army will email residents with a list of required documentation, which includes the DHHS letter, a signed lease statement, a copy of a state issued ID, and other information. Only after all the required information is collected and sent in, an appointment will be set up to discuss eligibility. A family budget will also be discussed at this time.

The Salvation Army is also seeking donations to help support its services. Checks can be sent to The Salvation Army, 3001 South 5th Ave., Escanaba, MI 49829 or The Salvation Army, 1009 W. Baraga Ave., Marquette, MI 49855. Online donations can be made at SAescanaba.org or SAmarquette.org by selecting “Donate Now.” Online donations are allocated to The Salvation Army unit in the zip code of the donor.