With no one on the Madison County waiting list for the previously granted federal Emergency Rental Assistance, commissioners voted Wednesday to extend some of the funds into Huntsville.

HBJMadisonCountyLogo Both the city and county received grants to offer rental assistance during the pandemic to struggling renters, and with money sitting idle in the county’s coffers it was decided to move some into Huntsville.

The U.S. Treasury Department has alerted municipalities that if they have not spent the majority of their funding by Sept. 30, there is the chance for re-evaluation to send that money to places with greater need.

Madison County received just over $5 million and Huntsville got $6 million. With only 300 applicants and no waiting list, and with Huntsville having a waiting list, the commissioners voted unanimously to open the county-earmarked to city residents as well.

Relief is also available not only for rent but for certain utilities.

“It’s a win-win for both the renters and the landlords,’’ said Violet Edwards, a commissioner whose district includes parts of Huntsville.

The state also received federal ERA funds and opened applications in early March, followed by Huntsville in mid-March. Madison County opened enrollment June 1.

“We received $5.2 million and right now we’ve spent just under $85,000,” Edwards said.

According to Edwards, the lack of applicants may root in confusion among residents about where to apply — with the state, city or county. This move should help streamline the local process, she said.

‘”The city of Huntsville had a small wait list, and we don’t have a wait list so now they can apply to us and we can get it moved through,” Edwards said.

Previously, County Commissioner Craig Hill said, “I really would like for the county money first to have an opportunity to be used in Madison County since the city has the ability to help (city residents).’’

But with few applicants, Edwards said it made sense to expand the pool with a deadline approaching to where the funds can go. Her colleagues agreed.

“We put the foot on the gas pedal,’’ she said.

The Madison County Emergency Rental Assistance program lists the following for eligibility:

Must be obligated to pay rent on a residential dwelling in Madison County.
One or more individuals within the household has qualified for unemployment benefits or experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs, or experienced other financial hardship due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Must be able to demonstrate the risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability.
The household has an income at or below 80% of area median income (AMI)

The benefits of receiving MCERA relief are:

Rent (Future rent for up to three months).
Past Due Rent (arrears) to April 1, 2020.
Utility – including electric, water, gas, and sewer, (costs for Internet, telephone, cable, or satellite television are not eligible under this program).

Application requirements can be found at madisoncountyal.gov.

Huntsville city applicant information can be found at huntsvilleal.gov.