ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ

Gov. Mike Parson, a Republican, proposed the spending earlier this month, but House leaders were forced to suspend legislative action last week amid multiple lawmaker COVID-19 cases, delaying quick action on the relief.

With House members headed back to the capital city on Monday, the House Budget Committee could weigh the spending as early as Tuesday.

According to published Monday, Missouri is allocated $410 million of $25 billion that Congress approved for emergency rental assistance via this year’s Consolidated Appropriations Act.

The documents say $184.5 million of the $410 million is reserved for local governments with a population of more than 200,000, while the rest — $225.5 million — is for the state.

Ashton Kever, spokeswoman for the Department of Economic Development, said cities such as St. Louis would receive federal funding “directly from the U.S. Treasury and will administer those funds independently from the funds being administered by� the state.

She said renters and landlords would be able to apply for funds from the Missouri Housing Development Commission.

“There will be mechanisms in place to prevent double dipping� by people applying for both state and local funds, Kever said.

“This program will provide much needed relief to those qualifying households that have been unable to pay rent and utilities as a result of the pandemic’s effect on the stability of their income,� Kever said in a statement. “It can provide up to 12 months of rent and utility assistance, ongoing rent and utilities for up to three months, and help cover missed rent or utilities since March 1, 2020.�

“State(s) are required to prioritize low-income households and households with unemployed members,� the budget document says.

An aide for House Budget Chairman Cody Smith, R-Carthage, said Monday the actual dollar amount debated could differ from the budget document, depending on how much money the federal government actually delivers.