The application period for the Haines Borough’s household CARES Act grants is open. The deadline is Aug. 14 at 5 p.m.

As of Wednesday, the borough had received 88 applications, borough chief fiscal officer Jila Stuart said. Most were from “people who work seasonally in the visitor industry, but there are also applications from fishermen, people who couldn’t work due to lack of childcare and people who lost work because of the generally reduced economy in Haines this summer.”

Unlike the application for the borough’s business and nonprofit grant program, the application for household grants is web-based. Residents can access the online form at https://www.hainesalaska.gov/haines-borough-cares-household-economic-relief-utility-rent-moorage-assistance-application.

For those who require assistance, staff will be available to help at the library Mondays and Tuesdays, 10 a.m.-12 p.m .; Wednesdays, 3-5 p.m .; Thursdays, 1:15-3:15 p.m. and all open hours on weekends.

To qualify for the program, applicants must spend at least half the year in Haines, have suffered economic hardship as a result of COVID-19 and be in need of economic assistance. Applicants will be asked to describe the economic losses they have suffered in the form.

Applications are limited to one per physical address. Through the program, a household can request up to $900 in utility, rent and moorage assistance. An additional $100 credit for Community Waste Solutions will be provided to all successful applicants.

Stuart said so far, most people have requested the full grant amount.

The funds will not be given directly to individuals. Instead, the borough will pay the money directly to the utility company or landlord, using account information provided in the application. Grant money may pay for expenses incurred between March 1 and Dec. 30.

Funding for the program comes from $300,000 in federal CARES Act dollars. At present, if demand exceeds available funds, the borough will reduce all grant amounts by the same percentage to stay within the spending limit.

The borough is expected to receive a total of $4 million from the CARES Act this year, and there is currently no spending plan for roughly $1.9 million. At a meeting July 28, assembly members said they may adjust household grant program funding in the future if demand far exceeds funding.

The borough will notify applicants about their application status by email. Those with questions can contact the borough at cares@haines.ak.us or 766-6400.

The state recently broadened eligibility for its CARES Act-funded business and nonprofit grant program to include businesses that received up to $5,000 through federal loan programs and all commercial fishermen. Prior to the revision, the program was limited to fishermen with state business licenses and excluded businesses that received any federal loans. Beginning Aug. 6, fishermen and other eligible businesses and nonprofits can apply online at akcaresonline.org.