02/05/2021
$25B in Rental Assistance Is on the Way: Who Will Qualify?
January 26, 2021
As part of last month’s COVID-19 stimulus package, $25 billion in federal assistance funds are expected to be disbursed to states today, Jan. 26.
There could be a rush for funds with an estimated 14 million Americans are behind on their rent. Further, rental arrears in the country may be near $70 billion, CNBC reports.
To qualify for rental assistance, at least one member of a household must have experienced income loss, significant expenses due to the pandemic, or are eligible for unemployment benefits. They will need to show they are or could be at risk of homelessness. The person’s current income level also can’t be higher than 80% of the area’s median income. Several states are prioritizing applicants who are at 50% or lower on the median income level and who’ve been unemployed for 90 days or more, CNBC reports.
Renters could be eligible for up to a total of 12 months of back rent and utility bills. They may also be eligible to get payments to cover future rental payments. The funds are paid directly to the landlord or utility company.
Landlords may also be able to apply on behalf of their tenants, as long as they get approval from the tenant.
Some states are already offering existing rental assistance programs under monies previously provided through the CARES Act. They may add the new funds to their existing rental assistance programs or start a new program.
“Where or how will apply will vary city by city,” Emily Benfer, a visiting law professor at Wake Forest University, told CNBC. “Renters should contact local housing groups, their representatives, or the local 211/311 lines to identify programs and learn how to apply.”
$ 25B的租金援助即將到來：誰將有資格？
2021年1月26日
作為上個月COVID-19刺激計劃的一部分，預計將於1月26日今天向各州支付250億美元的聯邦援助資金。
估計有1400萬美國人的房租未付，可能會急需資金。此外，CNBC報導，租金拖欠可能接近700億美元。
要獲得租房援助的資格，至少一個家庭成員必須經歷收入損失，因大流行而產生的大量支出或有資格領取失業救濟金。他們將需要證明他們正在或可能面臨無家可歸的風險。該人當前的收入水平也不能高於該地區中位數收入的80％。 CNBC報導，一些州正在優先考慮收入中位數在50％或以下且失業90天以上的申請人。
租房者可能有資格獲得最多12個月的租金和水電費。他們也可能有資格獲得付款以支付未來的租金。資金直接支付給房東或公用事業公司。
只要獲得房客的批准，房東也可以代表房客申請。
一些州已經根據以前通過《 CARES法案》提供的資金提供現有的租金援助計劃。他們可以將新資金添加到他們現有的租金援助計劃中或開始新的計劃。
威克森林大學的客座法律教授艾米莉·本弗（Emily Benfer）對CNBC表示：“適用的地點或方式將因城市而異”。 “房客應聯繫當地的住房團體，他們的代表或當地的211/311聯絡線，以確定計劃並學習如何申請。”
