The ERAP Grant was designed to provide assistance to residents with the greatest need by paying past due, current, and future rent. | Stock Photo
The ERAP Grant was designed to provide assistance to residents with the greatest need by paying past due, current, and future rent. | Stock Photo
Pacific County Health and Human Services is currently accepting applications from individuals for rental assistance in a program supported by US Department of the Treasury grant funds, according to The Wahkiakum County Eagle.
The Eviction Rent Assistance Program (ERAP) Grant was designed to provide assistance to residents by paying past due, current and future rent. Resources are limited, so individuals with the greatest needs will get priority. Applicants may apply for up to three months of rent payments in any combination of rental arrears, current rent, or future rent through December 2020.
Households must meet two initial criteria to qualify. The current income of the household over the last 60 days must be at or below 50% of the Area’s Median Income and the household must have at least one month of unpaid rent or partially unpaid since March 1.
Additionally, at least one member of the household, not necessarily the head of the household, must also meet at least one of the following additional criteria to qualify. The household member spends 50% or more of current monthly income is needed to pay rent; the household member was previously homeless within last five years (this includes couch surfing, doubling up); the household member has a history of eviction history within last seven years; the household member had housing disrupted due to issues relating to discrimination against race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, or religion; the household member is at risk of severe illness as per CDC (62 or older, underlying condition); the household member has a disability.
Definitions of disability include physical, developmental, mental, or emotional impairment, including impairment caused by alcohol or drug abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder, or brain injury. A person with HIV/AIDS is considered disabled, the Wahkiakum County Eagle reported.
Adults no older than 24 may also qualify for assistance if they are pregnant or parenting, or have been involved in foster care, mental health, drug or alcohol treatment, court systems, or if they were adopted.
Applicants are not required to be U.S. citizens to qualify for this program.
Funding for this program is provided by grants administered by the Local Government Coronavirus Relief Fund via the Washington State Department of Commerce. Funding for this program will end December 31 or once funds are exhausted, whichever occurs first.
Application materials and more information can be found here.
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