Louisiana on Thursday launched a federally funded $24 million assistance program for low-income residents who can’t pay their rent because of the COVID-19 pandemic and response, Gov. John Bel Edwards announced.

The Louisiana Emergency Rental Assistance Program is designed to help households facing financial hardship as a result of shutdowns, closures, layoffs, reduced work hours or unpaid leave related to the pandemic. The program starts out with $7 million from the HOME Investment Partnership Program, paid for with grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.