A program to help Hoosiers struggling with their rent payments during the pandemic has gotten more than 20,000 applications. Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority Executive Director Jacob Sipe gave an update on the Indiana COVID-19 Rental Assistance Program during Wednesday’s COVID-19 press conference.
“Renters may be eligible if they have lost income because of the pandemic,” he noted. “Applicants cannot receive rental assistance from another source of rental assistance during the same month when participating in the state’s program. Renters may be eligible if they are having trouble paying rent and face eviction.”
Qualifying renters can apply for up to $500 a month for four months, to help with past or ongoing rent payments. Sipe said landlords may start getting the payments as soon as next week.
The state has allocated $25 million in CARES Act funding toward the program. That’s enough to help about 12,000 households, rather than the more than 20,000 who’ve applied. Governor Eric Holcomb said he’s willing to look into ways to allocate more money, if necessary. “These are some of the many reasons why we’re very prudent about where we’re allocating dollars and our resources because of these exact kind of scenarios,” Holcomb added. “This is exactly why we also have sought from our federal partners more flexibility.”
Sipe also pointed out that homeowners struggling with their mortgage payments can find help at 877gethope.org. Meanwhile, those who need help paying their utility bills have until this Friday to apply for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
