Rent Assistance Application Portals Reopen

Brian Coddington, Communications Director, 509.625.6740

Thursday, August 11, 2022 at 11:19 a.m.

Application portals have reopened for tenants and landlords in the Spokane city limits seeking new state funds that will extend the distribution of rental and utility assistance dollars to those who have fallen behind on payments.

The City recently received $5.59 million in Eviction Rent Assistance Program (ERAP 2.0) funds from the state Department of Commerce for tenants and landlords applicants within the Spokane city limits. Requests to access those funds can be submitted online via the application portal.

“This funding is keeping people in need housed while they get back on their feet as they overcome the financial hardships brought on by the pandemic,” Mayor Nadine Woodward said. “The City has worked quickly over the past year to get rental assistance out to those who need it most.”

The City, through its partners, has distributed approximately $33 million in emergency rent and utility assistance funding since June 2021. More than 6,500 households in the city have benefitted from the program. The additional state funding extends that program.

Organizations that will process applications and determine whether tenants or landlords qualify for assistance include:

In addition to online applications, each of the organizations also accept paper applications. Applicants must meet all three of the initial screening criteria to be eligible for rental and/or utility assistance:

  • Household income is at or below 80% of the Area Median Income (examples: $47,150 for a one-person family; $67,300 for a four-person family);
  • Household is within the City of Spokane boundary; and
  • Currently have a missed/past due rent payment not paid or partially unpaid since March 1, 2020, and still occupying the residence.

Those who wish to apply for assistance are strongly encouraged to apply as soon as possible due to high demand.

“The past two years have been extremely difficult for many city tenants and landlords, so this emergency funding from the state has been made available to apply for at a crucial time,” said Devin Biviano, COVID-19 Program Manager for the City’s Community, Housing and Human Services Department. “Unfortunately, demand for relief in the community is higher than financial supply, so applicants should apply as soon as possible with no guarantee on how long it will be before the new funds are exhausted and the application process closes.”

SNAP processes emergency rent assistance applications for Spokane County residents.