The United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut will receive a $125,000 donation from Navigate Affordable Housing Partners for rent and housing assistance. The donation will help at-risk families stay in their homes with the CDC eviction ban expiring on Dec. 31, Navigate said in a statement.

“We believe quality housing is a fundamental human right,” said Navigate’s board chair, Spencer Ragland, said in the statement. “But COVID-19 has left many people unable to pay their rent. Hundreds of thousands of Connecticut families are at risk of eviction. We hope this will help people stay in their homes.”

Navigate Affordable Housing Partners is an Alabama-based nonprofit that provides affordable housing and works as a regulatory partner within the industry. The contribution is part of Navigate Gives Back, an initiative focused on charitable funding and voluntarism in the communities Navigate serves.

“We’re grateful to Navigate Affordable Housing Partners for sharing our belief that a safe, stable home is essential for adults and families to recover from the health and economic effects of COVID-19,” Paula S. Gilberto, president and CEO of United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut, said in the statement. “Rent and housing assistance will help prevent evictions, create stability for children, and free up family income for other household essentials, like food.”

The Census Bureau reports close to 211,000 Connecticut households are currently behind on rent or mortgage payments, Navigate said. Connecticut’s eviction moratorium is scheduled to expire Jan. 1.

“Navigate believes the donation to the United Way will help relieve some of the financial pressures so many people are dealing with right now,” said Ragland.