City Launches Rent Assistance Program for Those Affected By COVID-19
Kirstin Davis, Communications Manager, 509.625.7773
Tuesday, June 1, 2021 at 2:55 p.m.
The City of Spokane has been awarded Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) funds by the U.S. Treasury. The Administration recommended and the City Council approved to award these funds to three agencies to support City of Spokane residents. Today, Tuesday, June 1, applications are now available for these programs through Family Promise of Spokane, The Carl Maxey Center, and LiveStories.
“The need for housing assistance is impacting our families every day. The City is working quickly with partners to get these funds to people who need them most to help stabilize residents faced with the hardships caused by COVID-19,” says Mayor Nadine Woodward.
Households must meet all four of these initial screening criteria to be eligible for rent assistance programs:
- Resident in the household has qualified for unemployment or experienced a reduction in income, incurred significant costs, or experienced financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Current housing instability or risk of housing instability, which may include unpaid rental fees or anticipation of inability to pay future rent.
- Household income is at or below 80% of the Area Median Income.
- Household resides within the City of Spokane boundaries.
City residents can visit the Resident Assistance page on the City’s website for direct links to each program. Partner agencies focus on diverse populations and specifically, in conjunction with the above criteria will target the following households:
- City of Spokane Rental Assistance Program powered by LiveStories accommodates any household located within City boundaries. This emergency rental assistance program is intended for those who have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Funds are available for past due, current due, future rent and utilities.
- Family Promise of Spokane accommodates households with minor children and will provide financial assistance to families impacted by COVID-19 to prevent them from experiencing homelessness.
- The Carl Maxey Center will prioritize rental and utility assistance to African American and BIPOC households located within City boundaries. The goal of the Carl Maxey Center is to uplift, empower and transform Spokane’s African American and BIPOC communities that have been impacted by COVID-19. Funds are available for past due, current due, future rent and utilities to prevent housing instability.
Additionally, there are funds available for landlords to receive funds for resident rent assistance. Pre-registration and information is available now through the City of Spokane Rental Assistance Program for Landlords.
