Due to a lack of requests by residents for rent, mortgage and utility assistance in two townships, more funding will be available for owner-occupied home rehabilitation.

Wendy Leslie, the county's Community Development Block Grant administrator, told county commissioners at their Wednesday meeting that no residents of Penn or Summit townships requested funds to pay rent, mortgage or utility bills.

She asked for and received approval to move $47,178 from the fund to Penn Township's housing rehab program.

Leslie said if the county does not use the CDBG grant funds, they must be returned to the state.

Low- and moderate-income homeowners can apply for the funds to address issues such as mold and poor ventilation in their homes, which they must occupy.

Leslie said a public hearing was held in Penn Township Tuesday evening, and no residents objected to moving the money to the owner-occupied housing rehabilitation program.

She said township officials also reached out to low- and moderate-income residents, alerting them that grant funds were available to pay for rent, mortgage and utility bills that went unpaid due to job issues resulting from the coronavirus pandemic.

Township officials reported that no requests for the grant funds came in.

The owner-occupied housing rehabilitation program in Summit Township will receive $46,767 from the rent, mortgage and utility grant fund.

Leslie said a public hearing was held Oct. 6 in Summit to gather public comment on switching the funds, but no negative comments were received.

The county Redevelopment Authority will administer the housing rehab programs in both townships.

Of the $12.5 million Emergency Rental Assistance Program grant the county received for the pandemic, $9.5 million remains.

While requests for the funds will continue to be accepted until the end of October, county officials expect to return a portion of the grant funds to the state.