ST. LOUIS 鈥 More than two months after a much-debated $5 million pandemic aid plan for 10,000 residents was signed into law, details of the program are still being put together at City Hall.
Nick Dunne, a spokesman for Mayor Tishaura O. Jones, said Tuesday that it鈥檚 not known yet exactly when people will be able to start applying and when the $500 payments will start flowing.
鈥淲e do want to get it as soon as possible,鈥 Dunne said.
A team from the mayor鈥檚 and city treasurer鈥檚 offices and the city Human Services Department are working on the applications and qualifications to ensure that the program 鈥渁ppropriately targets families to have the greatest impact,鈥 he said.
He said another goal is to ensure that most of the grants go to people living in qualified census tracts outlined in the federal pandemic aid allocation to the city.
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Also involved is the United Way of Greater 50度灰视频, which was chosen to administer the $5 million contract. The contract was approved last week by the city Board of Estimate and Apportionment.
Dunne said part of the delay in launching the program was the requirement that a competitive procedure be used to select the contractor. That process took at least 21 days, he said.
In addition, he said, time was needed to draft the request for proposals.
Jones鈥 push for the $500 payments for 10,000 residents was a key part of the pandemic aid debate as the program moved through the Board of Aldermen last spring and summer.
Jones and others emphasized its importance at various points in the process while some aldermen expressed reluctance.
Critics pointed out that the bill also included other types of targeted aid to help people pay rent, mortgage, utility bills and other specific items.
Under the plan eventually passed by aldermen, applicants for the $500 payments will have to show proof of economic hardship due to COVID-19, such as job loss, reduced work hours, an increase in child care expenses, funeral expenses due to a COVID-related death and unplanned out-of-pocket medical expenses related to the virus.
Only residents earning 80% or less of the city鈥檚 median income can qualify, with the exact amount of allowed income depending on household size.
Payments will be issued through debit cards or direct deposits.
Homeless people sponsored by a shelter or other organization also could qualify.