Indiana is offering help for renters who’ve lost income due to COVID-19. Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority Executive Director Jacob Sipe announced Wednesday that qualifying renters will be able to get up to $500 a month for four months, to help with past or ongoing rent payments.
“[That] the household has experienced a loss of income from involuntary job layoff, reduced work hours, or reduced pay due to the public health emergency is an eligibility requirement,” Sipe explained. “Current household income, including unemployment, must be less than the household income on March 6, 2020.” Additionally, households are not eligible if they’re already getting some other form of rental assistance.
But Sipe said the landlord also has to agree to take part. “That’s why it’s really important right now and from the very beginning to always, whether you’re a renter or a homeowner, to reach out to your mortgage company or your landlord and inform them of your situation and work on developing a payment plan, so that those lines of communication are open,” he added. “And so hopefully in doing that, many of our renters will be able to engage with our landlords and they’ll want to participate in this program.”
The state has made $25 million in federal CARES Act funding available for the Indiana COVID-19 Rental Assistance Program, enough to help about 12,000 households. Renters will be able to apply at IndianaHousingNow.org starting July 13.
Meanwhile, Governor Eric Holcomb said he plans to extend the moratorium on evictions through July. But he won’t decide on extending the utility shutoff ban until he gets more guidance from the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission.
