Tenant advocates hope more federal funds are coming soon to help low-income rental families stay in their homes and apartments, writes Charlotte Keith for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Funds for the federal pandemic rental assistance program are running out, or have already run dry in some places. In others, the money sits unspent.

In Delaware County, most of the funding has been spent, said Jeremey Newberg, CEO of Capital Access, Inc.

About 35 new applications arrive each day. That’s enough demand to spend another $30 million, Newberg said.

Tenant advocates say renters are still struggling with pandemic debts and a shortage of safe and affordable housing.

 “Every single day, I get more and more people in here and they’re desperate,” said Lawrence Berringer, executive director of Berks Community Action Program. “I’ve got people crying in the lobby that can’t get help.”

Congress approved $47 billion in rent relief to cover rent and utilities up to 18 months as needed. But in Pennsylvania, the federal dollars weren’t targeted to areas with the most renters.

Some rural counties have more money than they can spend, while urban areas come up short.

Read more at The Philadelphia Inquirer about rental assistance funds running out.