More help is coming for Hoosiers struggling to pay their rent. Indiana’s gotten about $448 million for emergency rental and utility assistance, as part of the latest federal COVID-19 relief bill.
Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority Executive Director Jacob Sipe says it’ll provide up to 12 months of assistance to qualifying households. “Since this is a new program, any renter household in Indiana that needs assistance, and not currently receiving it from another source, should consider applying for this program once it is available,” Sipe said during Wednesday’s COVID-19 press conference.
To qualify, a household must have experienced unemployment, a drop in income, an increase in costs, or other financial hardship. They must also have a household income below 80 percent of the state median and be at risk of housing instability.
Sipe said the new program will officially launch once the IHCDA gets updated federal guidance. “Launching without this guidance could result in opening and then having to close our rental assistance portal to retool the application to comply with the new guidance,” he explained. “Once we receive the revised guidance from the U.S. Department of Treasury, we will be in a position to begin accepting applications. We expect to launch this program within once week of receiving this guidance.”
Residents of Marshall, Starke, and Pulaski counties, as well as most of the state, will be able to apply through the IHCDA at IndianaHousingNow.org or by calling 211. You can also sign up for email notifications to let you know when the application is available. Those living St. Joseph, Elkhart, and Lake counties, along with some other larger population centers will have to apply through a local program.
Sipe adds that homeowners at risk of foreclosure can continue to get assistance by visiting 877gethope.org.
