When West Virginia unveiled a new rental assistance program in March 2021 to prevent evictions and utility shutoffs, Gov. Jim Justice promised help was on the way.

“This year has been challenging for so many West Virginians. Many lost their jobs and have struggled to pay rent through no fault of their own,” he said in a press release. “These are great West Virginians who are contributors to our economy in every way. We’re all-in to help them, and I could not be happier about this wonderful program.”

But as the state prepares to close the federally funded Mountaineer Rental Assistance Program 18 months later, a large amount of the money didn’t reach West Virginians. State officials estimate by mid-October, they’ll have returned $86 million of that original $350 million to the federal government. They spent it too slowly, so it was redistributed to other states.

Officials have repeatedly blamed their failure to meet federal spending requirements on West Virginia being a small state where most people aren’t renters. But that doesn’t mean West Virginians don’t still need this money.

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West Virginia is returning $86 million meant to help renters and landlords to the federal government