How to Apply for Emergency Rental Assistance
If you’re struggling to pay rent due to COVID, make sure you take advantage of the just launched $ 25 billion rental assistance program , which is part of last month’s assistance package. If you find yourself in a difficult situation, you can pay your rent 15 months in advance.
How rental assistance works
Funding is currently being disbursed by state and local treasuries, which are due to receive all funds by January 26th. These governments then act as grant recipients who provide assistance to eligible households through existing or newly established rental assistance programs.
Eligible households can receive assistance for up to 12 months, plus an additional three months if the grantee determines that additional months are needed to ensure the stability of the housing. Funding will be primarily for those whose rent is overdue and face eviction.
As Diane Yentel , president of the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC), says:
While $ 25 billion in emergency rental assistance is clearly not enough to cover the roughly $ 70 billion in accumulated rent or the ongoing need for rental assistance to provide stable housing for families, these resources are urgently needed and urgently needed.
How to get
According to the Ministry of Finance , a “suitable household” is defined as a renter’s household in which at least one or more persons meet the following criteria:
- Eligible for unemployment, or has experienced a reduction in family income, significant expenses, or financial difficulties due to COVID-19.
- Demonstrates the risk of homelessness or housing insecurity.
- Has a family income of no more than 80 percent of the district median.
To demonstrate the risk of homelessness, you may be required to provide an overdue rent or utility notice. In addition, while you cannot qualify for a qualification if your median income is above 80% of the median income in your area, states have been instructed to give preference to candidates whose income has dropped 50% or less, and those who have not worked for 90 days. or more. …
In the meantime, the eviction moratorium has been extended until the end of January and may be extended by President-elect Joe Biden after he takes office on January 20.
Where to contact
Things are a little more complicated here, as each state, city, and county will have their own rental assistance programs, some of which are in the process of being created right now. On CNBC, you can see if a rental assistance fund already exists in your area here . If not, you can contact your state department of housing, local government websites, the 211/311 hotline, or local housing groups to find out how you can apply.