ABC57 News in South Bend, Ind. covers all of Michiana including St. Joseph, Elkhart, Kosciusko, LaPorte and Marshall counties in Indiana and Berrien, Cass, Van Buren and St. Joseph counties in Mich.
Word came from the feds two weeks ago. The U.S. Treasury was providing $8.1 million directly to St. Joseph County to help people â specifically those disrupted by COVID-19 â to pay for rent and utilities. County Auditor Mike Hamann considered the large sum. The county had applied for the grant out of $25 billion in emergency relief that Congress had approved in December but didnât know how big the local grant would be.
Lacking the staff or expertise in relief aid, Hamann said the county will look to local charities to channel the dollars â charities whoâve already been distributing pandemic aid â though it may take a while to get the new system in place.