“In the beginning, he was really stressed not knowing how to deal with the situation,” said Carmen Romos, the intake specialist who made the call. “With COVID, being behind on rent, and being his household’s provider was very hard on him,” she said.
“He initially thought that even though he would apply, there was no solution to his problem,” Ramos said. “But I reassured him that I was there to help.”
Ramos first helped Hernandez apply to the d Temporary Rental Housing Assistance Program. THRAP, launched by the state in June of 2020, is now on pause. The $40 million program was funded through the CARES Act’s Coronavirus Relief Fund. The application required Hernandez sign paperwork that could not be completed online.