Online applications open for $215 million in pandemic rental assistance
Utah renters struggling to keep up payments now have an online resource to apply for a share of a new $215 million relief fund. Last week Utah’s Department of Workforce Services, along with funding partners Salt Lake, Davis and Utah counties and Salt Lake City, launched an online application for Emergency Rental Assistance. Previously, renters applied through local community action program agencies, but starting March 15, renters from anywhere in the state began applying for assistance online at rentrelief.utah.gov.
Renters are eligible if they have combined household income at or below 80 percent of area median income, have qualified for unemployment, experienced a reduction in income or incurred significant costs due to the pandemic and are experiencing housing instability.
Utah began providing rental assistance in May 2020 to keep Utah residents in their homes during the pandemic, despite job loss or other financial impacts. Approximately $25 million in rental assistance was paid through December 2020. Congress then created the Emergency Rental Assistance program to provide rental assistance through Dec. 31, 2021. While awaiting program guidance and funding from the Department of the Treasury, Utah utilized existing funds to continue paying rental assistance during January and February 2021.