Clark County residents behind on rent are eligible for financial relief as the county kick-starts applications for a rental assistance program.
The county will offer rent assistance screenings on the sixth and 20th of each month beginning at 12:30 p.m. If either day falls on a holiday, the screening will take place the subsequent business day.
Rental assistance is obtained through the Council for the Homeless. The Council is working with other stakeholders, such as housing and homelessness agencies, to create more opportunities emphasizing making rent assistance accessible for those in need in Clark County.
“The new application system addresses concerns we received from tenants during previous rental assistance distributions. Now, there are more opportunities to apply for and receive assistance. Our goal is to help as many tenants as possible who have fallen behind in rent remain housed,” Sunny Wonder, deputy director of Council for the Homeless, said in a press release.
For tenants to qualify, they must be behind on rent for at least one month or more, and their household income must be 80 percent lower than Clark County’s area median income. The income requirement is met by a family of three earning $76,300 per year or less, while a single person will need to make $59,650 or less to satisfy the requirement.
In the past, the program was limited to households below 60 percent of the area’s median income, according to the Council for the Homeless.
Homeowners behind their mortgage payments cannot receive financial assistance through the program. No aid also can be given to landlords. The rental assistance is one-time per household.
Mia Ryder-Marks: 360-735-4547; mia.ryder-marks@columbian.com
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