Grantees should adjust the content in the help text to be consistent with the specific policies and procedures that have been developed locally. endstream endobj startxref (2011). Demonstrate that it is likely you will be unable to pay future rent and/or utilities when they are due. The question How confident are you that your household will be able to pay your next rent or mortgage payment on time? (Question 41) was asked in phases 1 and 2 of the HPS, which include weeks 1 through 16 (April 23 to October 12, 2020). By enacting the right to counsel legislation, evictions in New York Citythe first city to implement this intervention strategywere reduced by 29 percent from 2017 to 2019.96 To better understand the scope of the U.S. housing stability crisis, uniform eviction data collection on the federal level is needed to capture the scope of filings and evictionswhere they are concentrated, who is filing, and the reasons for filing. Including a list of the potential months helps applicants think through each month. By May 2020, the CDC released guidance halting the clearing of outdoor encampments, though this guidance has not been implemented across many states and localities.76 Dozens of citiesincluding Washington, D.C.;77 Sacramento, California;78 and Denver, Colorado79have been reported to continue encampment clearing against this CDC guidance. The CDC moratorium ended on August 26, 2021, but help is available. Allow applicants to progress and self-attest if they cannot provide documentation. If your landlord refuses to participate in the program (after repeated requests from us), you may be eligible to receive direct payment of the financial award. But many families who do not become homeless face Browse all objectives. http://nlihc.org/sites/default/files/Renters_in_Foreclosure_2012.pdf [PDF 428 KB], Busacker, A., & Kasehagen, L. (2012). Or, you might qualify for a hardship exemption that allows you to skip one or more rent payments. The question Is this household currently caught up on rent payments? (Question 40b) was asked in Phase 2 of the HPS, which includes weeks 13 through 16 (August 19 to October 12, 2020). Rental assistance cant be used to cover any utilities and home energy costs that your landlord normally pays for. All members of the household must be on the lease. Prevent evictions, July 16, 2019, available at, David Elliot, CDC Agrees: The National Eviction Crisis Is a Public Health Emergency, Coalition on Human Needs, September 2, 2020, available at, National Low Income Housing Coalition, COVID-19 & Housing/Homelessness, available at, National Low Income Housing Coalition, Housing Needs By State, available at, Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act of 2020, Public Law 136, 116th Cong., 2nd sess. Applying for rental assistance may stop the clock on the eviction process if you have a case in Housing Court. Hardships disproportionately faced by communities of color are being exacerbated by the pandemic and require an equitable recovery that reconciles past harms while also providing solutions for current and future challenges. Ask for "income recertification" through your Public Housing Agency (PHA) or landlord. This example shows one way grantees can cross-reference household size and income against a proxy data source on the backend, without putting this onus on the applicant. Once you click all three boxes, read their content and close the windows, you can click Next to continue. If youre a landlord, eligibility is based on your tenants household needs, and youll be asked to show that your tenants household is eligible for assistance. doi: 10.2307/2094818, Lepore, S. J., Evans, G. W., & Palsane, M. N. (1991). This example shows how in these instances, you can ask for documentation of the rental address and evidence of past rental payments or allow tenants to self-attest. Increase in suicides associated with home eviction and foreclosure during the US housing crisis: Findings from 16 national violent death reporting system states, 20052010. For example, having an eviction on ones credit report and/or public record can affect ones ability to secure housing.97 Local legislation, such as Washington, D.C.s Eviction Record Sealing Authority Amendment Act of 201998 and Fairness in Renting Emergency Amendment Act of 2020,99 could help people looking to rent by sealing eviction records to prevent landlords from denying an applicant housing based on public records.100. (n.d.) Rental assistance. https://www.hud.gov/topics/rental_assistance. The intention is to help tenants see themselves and/or their situation within the checklist options offered and to avoid asking tenants to provide a narrative. It doesnt matter how long you have been living in your current rental home. They may also be able to help you get legal, financial, or other help. Housing Policy Debate, 26(1), 172187. experiencing homelessness or housing instability; and c. the household is a low-income family (as such term is defined in section 3(b) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. Housing instability and food insecurity as barriers to health care among low-income Americans. If you live in a manufactured home or mobile home, you can get rental help. Local programs have different requirements. The HPS only collects data in English and Spanish. I was living somewhere else, earlier in the pandemic. American Journal of Epidemiology, 168(6), 611619. This example shows a way to structure the rent assistance portion of an application. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2005.076190, Baggett, T. P., Hwang, S. W., OConnell, J. J., Porneala, B. C., Stringfellow, E. J., Orav, E. J., & Rigotti, N. A. endstream endobj 209 0 obj <. https://www.hud.gov/programdescription/mto, Chetty, R., Hendren, N., & Katz, L. F. (2016). Email. Housing instability also affects the implementation of new programs and policies that the office is exploring. start with the rental assistance programforyour state, tribe, or localarea. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Policy Development and Research. There has been a long history of housing insecurity for people of color in the United States due to racially targeted policies and widespread discrimination, particularly within the rental housing market. How stable is stable? Be sure to offer self-attestation if the applicant cannot provide any documentation. Additionally, people with criminal records continue to face barriers in obtaining rental housing. For instance, if your rent is subsidized by a federal agency like the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), you cant get help from your local program to cover the federally subsidized portion of your rent. Sign Up Can I get help with the cost of moving to a new home? If you need help paying your past and future rent, apply for rental assistance today. WebAll housing subsidized under 24 CFR 574.300 (b) (3), (4), (5), and (8), including units assisted under HOPWA tenant-based and project-based rental assistance, must be safe and sanitary. Can I get help with rent and utility bills from last year? The goal is to demonstrate ways grantees and their partners can create online application forms that are user-friendly, succinct, and easily understood. They offer eviction help for tenants and owner-occupied landlords. NOTE: The Office of Housing Stability is located at 43 Hawkins Street. doi: 10.7758/RSF.2015.1.2.04, Geller, A., & Curtis, M. A. Finda rental assistance programforyour state, tribe, or localarea. Neighborhoods with more renters of color face higher rates of eviction. If youre able to, you should pay your rent. It allows the applicant to fill in each month they are asking for assistance on, as well as any fees, and calculates the total amount of assistance requested for them. For example, if the applicant only checks that they need assistance with gas bills, only additional fields pertaining to the gas bill will be shown. If You Haven't Received an Eviction Notice, If You Already Received an Eviction Notice, Massachusetts Bar Association Lawyer Referral Program, Office of Housing Stability Virtual Legal Clinic, Housing Stability Notification Act: Landlord Information, Condominium and Cooperative Conversion Ordinance, Our goal is to put residents on the path to housing stability. The Office of Housing Stability's Housing Crisis Case Coordinators can help you deal with the eviction process. New England Journal of Medicine, 365(16), 15091519. The three types of eligibility attachments required include: Proof of They may ask you for a written statement. Our goal is to put residents on the path to housing stability. Your local program should let you know how their system for prioritizing applications works. They'll work with Boston residents who are at risk of housing instability. Advancing Racial Equity and Justice, Building an Economy for All, Strengthening Health, Affordable Housing, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Poverty, Racial Equity and Justice, Racial Wealth Gap+6More, Associate Director, State and Local Government Affairs, Senior Director, Safety and Justice Campaign; Director, State and Local Government Affairs. Moving 3 or more times in 1 year, often called multiple moves, has been associated with negative health outcomes in children.3,21Children who move frequently are more likely to have chronic conditions and poor physical health.21They may also be less likely to have consistent health insurance coverage.21, People who have spent time in prison may be discriminated against by potential landlords, lose eligibility for public housing, and struggle to maintain stable housing.22,23People are often released from prison with minimal income, and those who find employment face reduced earnings and may have difficulty paying for housing.22,23One study found that 5 years after release, Black individuals who have spent time in prison were more likely to experience housing instability than White individuals who have spent time in prison, even after controlling for earnings.23, Homelessness is housing deprivation in its most severe form.9Homelessness is defined as lacking a regular nighttime residence or having a primary nighttime residence that is a temporary shelter or other place not designed for sleeping.24About 580,000 people experienced homelessness in the United States on a single night in 2020.8A study of newly homeless people in the New York City shelter system found that 6 percent had diabetes, 17 percent had hypertension, 17 percent had asthma, 35 percent had major depression, and 53 percent had a substance use disorder indicating that chronic disease is more common among people who are newly homeless than among the general population.25People who are homeless also have an increased risk of premature death.26A study in Boston found that for 25- to 44-year-olds, the mortality rate was 9 times higher for men who are homeless and 10 times higher for women who are homeless compared to the general population of Massachusetts and the mortality rate for 45- to 65-year-olds was 5 times higher for people who are homeless.26The health effects of homelessness can begin early in life, as pregnant women who are homeless are more likely to deliver preterm and low birthweight babies.27, In addition to the direct health effects of housing instability, frequent moves may prevent individuals and families from building long-lasting attachments to neighborhoods. endstream endobj startxref (March 27, 2020), available at, The Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act of 2020, H.R. Local programs are allowed to cover moving expenses, security deposits, rental application or screening fees, and motel or hotel bills for families who have to move out of their homes. If you have overdue rent, the money must go toward rent that you owe, first. This term is preferable to Latino, which is not gender-inclusive. This includes electricity, gas, fuel oil, water and sewer, and trash removal. var onSuccessSubmitenSubscribeFooter = function() { doi: 10.1007/s10995-012-0997-8, Herbert, C. W., Morenoff, J. D., & Harding, D. J. This requires both emergency and long-term solutions at the local, state, and federal levels. This includes help paying for future utility or energy bills, even if you owe money for existing or overdue bills. If they do not agree, or if they do not respond within seven days (or within five days, if the program contacts your landlord by phone, text, or e-mail), your local program may be able to give the money to you. WebThe household must also be able to demonstrate a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability to qualify. doi: 10.1002/jcop.21665, Cutts, D. B., Meyers, A. F., Black, M. M., Casey, P. H., Chilton, M., Cook, J. T., & Frank, D. A. This HEROES package originally included key protections, such as $100 billion in emergency rental assistance, a uniform federal moratorium on evictions, and $11.5 billion in homelessness aidsupports that were responsive to the direct asks of advocates, experts, and critical-need communities. Check with your local program to find out how they can help. Webhousing as a core social determinant of personal health and well-being; and substantial evidence that housing stability is essential for people to address their challenges and Where applicable, these examples have been listed in the order of preference. Housing instability encompasses a number of challenges, such as having trouble paying rent, overcrowding, moving frequently, or spending the bulk of household income on housing.1,2These experiences may negatively affect physical health and make it harder to access health care.1,3,4This summary will discuss the cost of housing as well as the health effects of substandard housing and forced evictions. Some programs may also provide housing counseling, case management, legal representation, and other housing stability services. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.1604, Cutts, D. B., Coleman, S., Black, M. M., Chilton, M. M., Cook, J. T., de Cuba, S. E., & Frank, D. A. Forced displacement from rental housing: Prevalence and neighborhood consequences. Your applications will not be fully submitted until your landlord has responded to the recommendation request and has submitted required documentation. var onSuccessSubmitenSubscribeSlideUp = function() { Rental assistance helps renters and landlords make ends meet. These three statements also need to be true: Eligibility is based on a renter households financial situation and housing needs. Like other renters, you may also qualify for help with utilities or other housing-related expenses. The eviction process begins when a landlord serves you a legal document called a Notice to Quit (Eviction Notice). If you need help paying your past and future rent. var subscribe = document.getElementById('enSubscribeSlideUp'); This example illustrates how you can structure the section on utility assistance. Although new rental construction is currently on the rise, more rental units are being built with the high-income market in mind, whereas the supply of low-cost rental units continues to decline dramatically as housing instability increases.105 Worse yet, few rental units are accessible106 or constructed to fit the needs or lifestyles of multigenerational families.107 Moreover, exclusionary zoning policies that concentrate racialized poverty and foster segregation must be banned, and investments must be made in affordable, accessible housing that gives residents a choice of where to live and that works for a diverse range of families.108. The federal ERA Program allows local programs to cover rent, utilities, and home energy costs. `Fr4S;D1 Housing subsidies administered by the federal government provide financial assistance to help low-income people pay rent.6,33,34However, households may be on waitlists for several years before receiving assistance.6,18,33Due to limited funds and the large number of households in need, only 26 percent of eligible households received federal housing subsidies in 2013.8Further work is needed to explore potential strategies to reduce housing instability. As early as April 2020, 32 percent of Black adults and 41 percent of Latinx adults experienced job loss due to the pandemic, compared with only 24 percent of white adults.26 Black and Latina women have seen the largest drop in their employment-to-population ratios since February, with Black women in particular seeing jobs come back at a rate that is 1 1/2 times slower than that of white women.27 Although all racial and ethnic groups have faced record unemployment, the Black-white unemployment gap has persisted throughout the pandemic.28 For Asian Americanswho have been particularly targeted by racist responses to the coronavirus crisisunemployment rates have soared to 11 percent in July, compared with 3 percent during the previous year, and they remain historically high as the pandemic continues.29. Utilities and home energy costs include electricity, gas, water and sewer, trash removal, and fuel oil. Acceptable documentation for this can include the following: Rent burden, housing subsidies and the well-being of children and youth. The City supports landlords who rent to Boston residents moving out of homelessness. Recent analysis estimates that the amount of back rent owed may reach as much as $34 billion by years end, with more than 20 million renters8 million householdsfacing possible eviction by January 2021.31 Renters of color disproportionately report being behind on rent, (see Figure 3) and unpaid rent continues to grow. Beyond these packages, other legislation focused specifically on housing has been introduced, including the Rent and Mortgage Cancellation Act,46 the Emergency Housing Protections and Relief Act,47 and the Protecting Renters from Evictions and Fees Act.48, In September, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) enacted a national halt on residential evictions for nonpayment of rent,49 which required renters to sign a declaration form stating that they meet certain eligibility criteria.50 This action came with the following CDC acknowledgement: Housing stability helps protect public health because homelessness increases the likelihood that people may move into close quarters in homeless shelters or other settings. Segregating shelter: How housing policies shape the residential locations of low-income minority families. If youre a renter having trouble paying your rent, utilities, or other housing costs or if youre a landlord trying to stay afloat with tenants in this situation help may be available. To do so, specifically when it comes to rental housing, requires: Renters of color face discrimination in obtaining and maintaining housing. But right now,most federal emergency rental assistance programs accept applications from landlords. hb``` 7@(1)"1@ k? Talk to your local program to find out how they can help. We also use the term Latinx, which includes a person or group of people with origins in Latin American. When you apply for emergency rental help, you will be asked to show that your income is eligible and that youre experiencing housing instability. Saegert, S., Fields, D., & Libman, K. (2011). However, housing discrimination policies that disproportionately affect people of color, such as barring people with criminalized records from renting or obtaining housing vouchers,7 are still legal; and other discriminatory practices, such as landlords showing families of color fewer rental options,8 still occur with little tracking or accountability. if(subscribe.checkValidity()) { Local programs are also allowed to use some emergency rental assistance funds to help you with other expenses related to your housing, such as reasonable late fees, as well as costs for internet service that allows you to engage in distance learning, telework, telemedicine, and getting government services. Therefore, a national, comprehensive moratorium on evictions should be extended past the pandemic to ensure that renters are able to remain housed. }. A study from the University of Washington that focused on rental housing in Washington state found that, in 2018, neighborhoods with more racial diversity experienced higher rates of evictions.18 Another, earlier study, which looked specifically at King County, Washington, found that nonwhite renters faced eviction rates that were 60 percent higher than those of white renters.19 Controlling for poverty levels, New York City neighborhoods with more Black and Latinx renters also face higher rates of evictions,20 and more Black and Latinx renters than white renters report being threatened with eviction.21 And after looking at data from 2009 to 2011, the Milwaukee Area Renters Study found that Latinx renters in predominantly white neighborhoods were twice as likely to be evicted as Latinx renters in neighborhoods that were not predominantly white.22, People of color disproportionately experience homelessness. (2015). These example pages can be used by program administrators and staff or vendors in building or modifying ERA applications. . Platforms such as these recognize that an equitable recovery must be race-conscious and reconcile past harms while also providing solutions for current challenges. Yes, but only for rent and utility bills charged on or after March 13, 2020, when a national state of emergency was declared. Housing costs exceed 50% of the current household income. (2016). If you have a disability, dont have access to technology, or have other special needs, a local program may be flexible about the proof they require. No Past Due Rent or Late Fees - If you do not have delinquent rent and/or late fees, we will need to collect additional information from you to determine your eligibility for the program. If your household has no income, or if your employers offices have closed, it may be difficult to prove your household income. For example, in some areas, you can apply for rental assistance yourself. Frederick, T.J., Chwalek, M., Hughes, J., Karabanow, J., & Kidd, S. (2014). Utility bill for each utility company if applying for utility assistance WebProof of Housing Instability Acceptable Documents may include: Disconnected Utility Notice Self-Declaration of Homelessness Self-Declaration of Housing Instability Identification of Based on conversations with grantees and tenants, it can be difficult to describe and document financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The author would like to thank Areeba Haider and Justin Schweitzer for their fact-checking assistance; Alexandra Cawthorne Gaines, Taryn Williams, and the Race and Ethnicity Policy, Economic Policy, Government Affairs, and Executive teams, as well as the Womens Initiative and Poverty to Prosperity Program, for their review; and CAPs Editorial, Art, and Press teams for their guidance. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. doi: 10.1257/aer.20150572, Ludwig, J., Sanbonmatsu, L., Gennetian, L., Adam, E., Duncan, G. J., Katz, L. F., & McDade, T. W. (2011). For providers to cover it, you must provide a bill, invoice, or other evidence that shows you paid for the service. Desmond, M., & Shollenberger, T. (2015). If your income has changed, you might qualify for lower rent. Am I eligible for emergency rental assistance? WebHousing insecurity can take a number of forms: homelessness; housing cost burden; residential instability; evictions and other forced moves; living with family or friends to Four in 5 landlords use criminal background screening when evaluating tenant applications,101 and people with criminal records are often ineligible for public and supportive housing programs.102 These barriers disproportionately affect people of color and contribute to the cycle of housing insecurity and incarceration.103 Repealing these restrictions and practices while jointly adopting automated record-clearing programs, such as the Clean Slate Initiative,104 would help provide access to affordable housing and keep people lodged. %%EOF Cutts, D. B., Meyers, A. F., Black, M. M., Casey, P. H., Chilton, M., Cook, J. T., & Frank, D. A. Frequent family moves have been linked to attention and behavioral problems among preschool children. As a result, more renters are turning to savings,32 retirement,33 and the newly accepted rental payment method by many landlordscredit cards.34 These methods of staying afloat that so many are now turning to plant the seeds of future financial struggle, as many diminish personal emergency funds and increase debt as individuals and families try to stay housed.35 Tenant advocate groups, researchers, and agencies across the country have identified eviction as a perpetuator of poverty,36 a driver of homelessness,37 and a public health crisis.38, In response to the coronavirus pandemic, some emergency housing protections have been taken at the local, state, and federal levels. experiencing homelessness or housing instability, which may include (i) a past due utility or rent notice or eviction notice, (ii) unsafe or unhealthy living conditions, or National Low Income Housing Coalition. Questions - If you have questions about the program, you can: All email messages will be returned within one business day. Any additional program policy decisions could be captured in this checklist, or other parts of the interface, as needed. But this depends on your local program. As described in Treasury's FAQs, grantees must determine who is eligible to receive rental assistance. Long entrenched, racially targeted policies and practices at the local, state, and national levels have led to discriminatory practices and disparities in rental housing.4 The Fair Housing Act (FHA) of 1968 prohibits discrimination against applicants and tenants based on various identities, including race.5 Yet despite the FHA and its amendments, overt and subtle racial discrimination still occurs. But money from the Homeowner Assistance Fund created under the American Rescue Plan Act may also be available. Talk to your landlord. 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