City to Provide Rental Assistance Funds for Families Affected By COVID-19

Brian Coddington, 509.625.6740

Tuesday, July 14, 2020 at 3:54 p.m.

City of Spokane will work with Spokane Workforce Council to provide a rapid-delivery Home Tenant Based Rent Assistance funded by HUD to families experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19. The program will serve a diverse population of low-income renters who have reduced or lost incomes due to the pandemic. The project is expected to serve over 200 renters at a low administrative cost, and will be deployed by Career Path Services through the Spokane Resource Center, which already has infrastructure in place to provide rental assistance to area residents.

“This has been the perfect storm for many families. Juggling loss of income, at-home learning and food security during a pandemic is stressful,” says Mayor Nadine Woodward. “I am grateful we are able to assist families with rental payments and ease that burden.”

The purpose of the program is to quickly implement limited time rent payments to City residents earning less than 60 percent of the area median income and are temporarily unable to pay rent due to financial hardship because of COVID-19.

Program criteria includes and is not limited to:

  • Prioritizing recipients based on payment history, previous assistance and proof of income status.
  • Unit is located inside Spokane city limits and meets inspection requirements.

To inquire about assistance, please call (509) 867-8188 to be connected with the rental assistance team at the Spokane Resource Center. The Spokane Resource Center, located at 130 S. Arthur Street, 2nd floor (above WorkSource) currently has staff assisting clients via phone.