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EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE
The emergency rental assistance portal is currently accepting applications at this time! Learn more on their webpage.
Help your tenants apply for rental assistance. (Remember rental assistance funds go directly the housing provider - not the tenant).
Be a resource for your tenants. Help them apply for rental assistance where you can.- Show up to their houses with a computer.
- Print out application materials and help them fill them out.
- Download free scanner apps so you can scan documents if needed. Cam Scanner and Adobe Scan are free scanner apps you can download on your phone.
Congress has finally passed legislation that includes $25 billion in rent relief for impacted households. Below is a summary of what housing providers need to know and what to do.
WHAT HOUSING PROVIDERS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT RENT STIMULUS (December 2020)
Key Highlights:- States will be responsible for distributing funds.
- Checks will go directly to property owners (not tenants).
- Funds are earmarked for rental assistance - including unpaid rent and utilities.
- Funds can be used to recover rental income for up to 18 months in arrears, or 12 months in advance.
Caveat: CDC Eviction Moratorium has been extended until March 31, 2021.
Detailed Summary of Proposed Covid-19 Relief Click here to open the PDF summary from the Center of Housing Economics.
| National REIA Director Of Legislative Affairs, Charles Tassle, Discusses Relief Plan Skip to 4:15 for the rental relief discussion.
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WHAT HOUSING PROVIDERS NEED TO DO
Reach out to your state and local officials about how these rental relief funds can be distributed to help housing providers.
Here is a link with how to contact Governor Holcomb's: https://www.in.gov/gov/governor-holcomb/ask-eric/
Here is a letter to send to our local leaders. Rent Relief Letter to Legislators.pdf
In short, we want ensure that our state officials use this rent relief funding to:
1. Pay the full amount of unpaid rent for affected households;
2. Consider current (not pre-Covid) income for households to qualify;
3. Pay any and all unpaid utility bills for the unit;
4. Not spend any less than the required 90 percent on direct rent relief to housing providers;
5. Limit the number of third parties in the transaction;
6. Use lenders that have existing relationships with housing providers;
7. Use direct electronic transfers to pay rent directly to providers;
8. Allow payments for ongoing and future rent and utility obligations if Covid-19 impacts continue; and
9. End or modify state and local bans on eviction to allow eviction for people who can pay but aren’t