Arizona Rental Assistance Prioritize Individuals Who are Suffering from Financial Hardship
Arizona rental assistance is a program from the federal and local governments aiming to assist individuals with their rental, housing, and utility problems. These programs mainly provide
financial assistance for eligible individuals.
Financial assistance that individuals can get would be a great source for paying their respective rental payments. Moreover, financial aid can also be used for housing and utility repairs of their homes.
The main concept of these programs is to support families or individuals to provide their necessities within their houses. Also, these programs prioritize individuals who are suffering from financial hardships as a result of Covid-19.
According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, Arizona ranks fourth among the states with the worst affordable housing and rental shortage. The data shows that there are still millions of individuals that continue to suffer from rental and housing as a result of financial instability.
Furthermore, the state of Arizona had $550 million in federal cash for emergency rental assistance, but the government still kept the majority of it.
If the funds would be properly distributed, millions of residents in Arizona will benefit from the said program.
Various rental assistance programs are open and available throughout the state of Arizona. These programs are continuously implemented to be a response to the local government for the loss because of the pandemic.
Most of the rental assistance in Arizona is supervised and handled by the
Arizona Department of Housing (ADOH). Furthermore, most of the rental assistance programs in Arizona are grants, they do not act as loans.
Meaning, these programs are given completely free and it does not require the beneficiaries to repay the financial assistance that they received. The local government of Arizona continues to push its best and support more eligible individuals for the rental assistance programs.
Arizona Rental Assistance Program
The local government of Arizona offers a variety of rental assistance programs within the said state. There are local rental assistance programs for its residents to support upon rental payments.
However, there are also rental assistance programs from the U.S. federal government to which Arizona’s residents can also apply.
Available rental assistance:
DES Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)
DES
Emergency Rental Assistance Program is the primary program of most of the states in Arizona that provide support for rental assistance of its residents.
The said program was managed and supervised by
Arizona’s Department of Economic Security. It prioritizes those families or individuals that suffer hardships upon rental payment and utilities.
Specifically, ERAP provides a maximum of $3,500 per month for eligible households to support their respective rents and utilities. However, this program is not open for all of the counties in Arizona, some counties are excluded from the said program.
List of counties that are supported.
• Apache
• Cochise
• Coconino
• Gila
• Graham
• Greenlee
• La Paz
• Mohave
• Navajo
• Pinal
• Santa Cruz
• Yavapai
Eligibility and Requirement
1. Must be at the risk of homelessness or housing instability that is demonstrated by eviction notice, utility shutoff notice, and past due rent or utility notice.
2. Individuals or families must be affected by the pandemic.
3. The maximum limit for household income must not exceed 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI).
Community Action Program provides rental assistance within Maricopa County. CAP mainly provides financial assistance for eligible households to maintain their respective rent, utility including water, gas, and electricity, mortgage, and eviction prevention.
However, the said program was also limited to Gilbert, Sun Lakes, Chandler, and the Maricopa County portion of Queen Creek.
Eligibility and Requirement
• Must be residing in the following county; Chandler, Gilbert, Sun Lakes, or the Maricopa County portion of Queen Creek.
• Must be at risk of homelessness or housing instability.
Tucson and Pima County Program
Tucson and Pima County Eviction Prevention/Rental Assistance and Utility Relief Program is the main rental assistance program that continuously helps the residents of Tucson and Pima.
The U.S federal government funded the said program with the respective counties. It primarily provides assistance for eligible households to sustain their rental payments and housing utilities.
As of now, the program already helped almost 4,823 families throughout the said counties.
Eligibility and Requirement
• Must be a resident of Tucson or Pima County
• Must be at risk of homelessness or housing instability.
Yuma County ERAP
Yuma County ERAP assists individuals residing in Yuma County only. Just like the ERAP, it also provides up to $3,500 in financial assistance for each eligible household for the stability of rent.
However, the local government of Yuma manages the said program and they have their funds from the federal government of the United States.
Eligibility and Requirement
• Must be a resident of Yuma County
• Must be at risk of homelessness or housing instability.
• The maximum limit for household income must not exceed 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI)
How to Apply for Rental Assistance
Arizona rental assistance has a different application process. The basic way of application is through visiting the local government office and asking for details regarding rental assistance.
Also, individuals can apply online within different programs for fast application.
Visit the websites to learn more about applications for respective programs.
Upon the application, prepare some of the following documents as they will be needed for the process.
1. Current Electric, Gas, and/or Water Bill(s)
2. Proof of Identity
3. Current Lease Agreement (must be in the name of a household member)
4. Gross Income Verification (must last for 60 days)
5. Proof of Financial Hardship (can be a documentation copy of Unemployment Benefits, Late notice, or Eviction Notice)
