BELLINGHAM, Wash. — A newly announced 3-point-3 million dollar fund is intended to provide pandemic housing assistance for Whatcom County residents.

The health department is implementing the two programs with other local partners.

The CARES Housing Assistance program is targeted to households earning 50 to 80 percent of median income to help with rent or mortgage payments.

Another larger fund called Eviction Rent Assistance will help persons earning less than 50% median income with rent payments.

Both programs will issue the checks directly to lenders or landlords.

More information is available at the Whatcom County Health Department website.