Jianbi Chen | iStock | Getty Images
Now that ailing tenants are no longer protected by a national eviction ban, it has become even more urgent for these households to get government rent subsidy approved.
Congress has provided more than $ 45 billion in rental aid to help tackle the crisis affecting renters and their landlords, but the money has been painfully slow to reach families. Seven months after these funds were approved, 16 states appear to have spent less than 5% of their share.
“Six and a half million households are behind on rents and are at increased risk of eviction,” said Diane Yentel, president and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition. “That number has barely moved since March, which tells us everything we need to know about the unacceptably slow pace of spending in many states and cities.”
More from Personal Finance:
Schools weigh up vaccination and mask requirements
Colleges and unvaccinated students face a stalemate this fall
College plans recovery, although cost is a major concern
Proponents blame the slow adoption of funds on complex and difficult applications and the lack of staff among the hundreds of organizations tasked with providing aid. Still, they say renters shouldn’t give up on getting the help that can help them avoid eviction.
A simple application can help you stay home longer.
In at least five states, those who have applied but have not yet received funding are eligible for some protection from being evicted from their homes. These states are Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Oregon, and Washington. Some of these policies offer tenants a lot more time. For example, individuals with a pending Minnesota state rental subsidy application will not be able to be expelled until June 2022.
Here’s what you need to know to access relief.
How do I apply?
The National Low Income Housing Coalition has a state list of 493 programs that spend federal funds. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau also has a new online tool to help you apply for aid.
Who Qualifies?
In order to be eligible for the subsidy, at least one member of your household must be entitled to unemployment benefits or provide written confirmation that they have suffered a loss of income or significant expenses as a result of the pandemic. You will also need to demonstrate a risk of homelessness, which may include an overdue rent or a notice from a utility.
In addition, despite the fact that states have been instructed to prioritize applicants who fall to 50% or less, and those who have been unemployed for 90 days or more, your 2020 income level cannot exceed 80% of your region’s median income.
Some state and local programs have additional priorities and that is what you should look for.
For example, a fund in California aims to help Native American households. Another in Oklahoma sends the money to those over the age of 62 first.
How much could i get
You can receive support for up to 18 months, including a mix of repayments and future rent payments.
If you have already been approved for rent but are still in arrears, you can usually apply again as long as you apply for relief for a different period of time. The money usually goes to your landlord unless they refuse (more on this below).
I am having trouble getting help. Why?
At the beginning you are not alone.
Housing advocates point to a number of issues with introducing assistance, particularly related to some tedious application process.
Andrew Aurand, vice president of research for the National Low Income Housing Coalition, said he saw an application that was 45 pages long. Another required tenants to document their income for the past six months.
“Officials are more concerned that so-called scammers will get this money than the people who really need it,” said Dan Rose, assistant professor of sociology at Winston-Salem State University and organizer of Housing Justice Now.
If you’re unable to meet a documentation requirement for applying for a program or are being rejected by a particular fund, find other rental support resources in your area, experts say.
It may also be worth contacting the organization and explaining why you cannot find a particular form. The Treasury’s latest policy encourages programs to take people at their word, and more than half of them are now allowing this so-called self-certification.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if a clerk could work with the tenant,” said Aurand.
Another problem is that some landlords refuse to take the money from the programs because they do not want to agree to the terms, which may include a ban on eviction of the tenant or an increase in rent for a specific window of time.
Encounter this problem?
Experts recommend that you ask the program if you can get the funds directly. More than a quarter of the programs now provide support for tenants.
Comments are closed.