N.C. fails to spend more than $1 billion in rental assistance, while Gov. Cooper protests evictions

Out of $1.5 billion sent to North Carolina, only $300 million has been spent at most

More than a year after the first COVID-19 cases were identified, weeks after most restrictions were lifted statewide, and as employers desperately struggled to hire workers, the Council of State finally decided to end a ban on evictions in North Carolina at the end of June.

Gov. Roy Cooper immediately blasted them for doing so, firing off a strongly worded press release criticizing Republican elected officials. “Many North Carolinians still need help,” Cooper said.

As it turns out, that help was available — and had been for months. The Cooper administration had simply failed to deliver it.

North Carolina has received some $1.5 billion in federal money to help tenants pay their rent. As the state’s chief executive, Cooper is responsible for making sure it gets to the right hand.

But by the most generous reports, only $300 million has made its way to renters or landlords. That best-case scenario represents only 20% of the total amount available, even as Cooper and housing advocates declar…