DWS launches rent HELP program for those ineligible for benefits
The Housing and Community Development Division of the Utah Department of Workforce Services has launched a new Rental Assistance Program for renters impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. More than $4 million is available through several programs, which will be implemented by regional agencies throughout the state.
The Rental Assistance Program is targeted to help individuals whose income has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic but have been found ineligible for unemployment benefits. Monthly rent payments of up to $1,500 can be made directly to landlords.
“There is a lot of assistance available right now through unemployment and other programs, but we know there are individuals and families in Utah who may be falling through the cracks,” said Jonathan Hardy, division director. “We don’t want anyone to lose their housing as a result of this pandemic.”
Of the available funding, $1 million is from existing federal HOME funds that might normally go to affordable housing construction or ongoing housing vouchers. The remaining funding, more than $3 million, comes from the CARES Act.
To learn more about eligibility and where to apply, renters should call the information and community social services referral line at 2-1-1.