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 the relief package passed last month. If you can prove hardship, up to 15 months of your rent could be paid for.
How rental assistance works
Funding is currently being doled out by the Treasury to state and local governments, which should receive all of the funds by January 26. These governments then act as grantees that provide assistance to eligible households through existing or newly created rental assistance programs.
Eligible households may receive up to 12 months of assistance, plus an additional three months if the grantee determines that the extra months are needed to ensure housing stability. Funding will be prioritized for those whose rent payments are in arrears and are facing 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 meet the estimated $70 billion in accrued back rent or the ongoing need for rental assistance to keep families stably housed, these resources are essential and desperately needed.
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How to qualify
Per the Treasury, an “eligible household” is defined as a renter household in which at least one or more individuals meet the following criteria:
To demonstrate a risk of homelessness, you might need to include a past due rent or utility notice. Additionally, while you can’t qualify if you exceed 80% of your area’s median income, states have been directed to prioritize applicants who fall at 50% or lower, as well as those who’ve been out of work for 90 days or more.
In the meantime, an eviction moratorium has been extended through the end of January, and will possibly be extended further by President-elect Joe Biden once he takes office on January 20.
Where to apply
This is where it’s a little bit more tricky, as each state, city, or county will have their own patchwork of rental assistance programs, some of which are in the process of being set up right now. Per CNBC, you can see if a rental assistance fund already exists in your area here. Otherwise, you can contact your state’s housing department, local government websites, 211/311 helplines, or local housing groups to inquire about how you can apply.
