Beyond these packages, other legislation focused specifically on housing has been introduced, including the Rent and Mortgage Cancellation Act,46 the Emergency Housing Protections and Relief Act,47 and the Protecting Renters from Evictions and Fees Act.48, In September, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) enacted a national halt on residential evictions for nonpayment of rent,49 which required renters to sign a declaration form stating that they meet certain eligibility criteria.50 This action came with the following CDC acknowledgement: Housing stability helps protect public health because homelessness increases the likelihood that people may move into close quarters in homeless shelters or other settings. WebHousing insecurity can take a number of forms: homelessness; housing cost burden; residential instability; evictions and other forced moves; living with family or friends to 208 0 obj <> endobj %%EOF This means that your local program can set lower income limits to make sure the neediest households get help first. If I dont need help with rent, can I still get help with utilities, heating and cooling bills, the cost of moving, or other costs? Blake, K. S., Kellerson, R. L., & Simic, A. Browse all evidence-based resources. WebFederal Programs and Funding to Prevent Housing Instability and Homelessness The CARES Act provides additional flexible funding to state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, Example screens for ERA program online applications, If an applicant indicates they did not have any expenses "due to" the pandemic then it would be appropriate to prompt them again changing "due to" to "during" in order to meet the. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 19(6), 12761283. The National Innovation Services Framework for an Equitable COVID-19 Homelessness Response, for example, took a participatory action approach to engaging communities with lived experiences with housing insecurity and homelessness in developing guidelines for decision-makers to build equity-focused COVID-19 homelessness relief approaches.84 Meaningful community partnerships must be prioritized, resourced, and sustained to ensure more equitable responses. However, in many cases tenants may not be in a position to provide these documents. WebWhen completing a Housing Stabilization Services Eligibility Request, eligibility documentation must be attached. Proof of identity; 2. These example pages can be used by program administrators and staff or vendors in building or modifying ERA applications. 0 Journal of General Internal Medicine, 21(1), 7177. Low-income children who switch schools frequently tend to perform less well academically, are less likely to complete high school, and as adults obtain jobs with lower earnings and skill requirements. Neighborhoods, obesity, and diabetes a randomized social experiment. Recovery for many individuals and families will extend well beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. However, housing is rarely constructed with multigenerational families in mind, and the supply does not meet the growing demand.13 Latinx, Native American, and Asian individuals, who increasingly live in multigenerational households,14 disproportionately live in overcrowded rental units that are not large enough or are not constructed for larger households.15 A benefit of living in a multigenerational household is that it increases household resources,16 which can serve as a safety net and lift families out of poverty.17 However, without adequate and affordable rental units designed and constructed to fit a range of families needs, the cultural, social, and economic benefits of living in multigenerational households are less available. By enacting the right to counsel legislation, evictions in New York Citythe first city to implement this intervention strategywere reduced by 29 percent from 2017 to 2019.96 To better understand the scope of the U.S. housing stability crisis, uniform eviction data collection on the federal level is needed to capture the scope of filings and evictionswhere they are concentrated, who is filing, and the reasons for filing. (2013). Rent, deposit, and utility assistance that lasts throughout the pandemic and its recovery would provide essential aid for the more than 1 in 6 renters who are not current on rent payments and could prevent evictions altogether. doi: 10.1177/0002716213479310, Fowler, K. A., Gladden, R. M., Vagi, K. J., Barnes, J., & Frazier, L. (2015). endstream endobj 209 0 obj <. Therefore, a national, comprehensive moratorium on evictions should be extended past the pandemic to ensure that renters are able to remain housed. Or they can ask you to show your income with other documents (for example, unemployment benefits documents, pay stubs, tax documents, a statement from an employer, etc.). For example, in some areas, you can apply for rental assistance yourself. Program requirements may differ at the local level. hbbd```b``+dd="J^09DB`Rd DI%`@?H1d`$$2@ uY If you have overdue rent, the money must go toward rent that you owe, first. The eviction process begins when a landlord serves you a legal document called a Notice to Quit (Eviction Notice). Wehelpresidents find and maintain stable, safe, and affordable housing. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2011.300139, Meltzer, R., & Schwartz, A. Applying for rental assistance may stop the clock on the eviction process if you have a case in Housing Court. Rent burden, housing subsidies and the well-being of children and youth. (2009). Its always a good idea to talk with your local program. Although new rental construction is currently on the rise, more rental units are being built with the high-income market in mind, whereas the supply of low-cost rental units continues to decline dramatically as housing instability increases.105 Worse yet, few rental units are accessible106 or constructed to fit the needs or lifestyles of multigenerational families.107 Moreover, exclusionary zoning policies that concentrate racialized poverty and foster segregation must be banned, and investments must be made in affordable, accessible housing that gives residents a choice of where to live and that works for a diverse range of families.108. WebRISK OF HOUSING INSTABILITY FORM . Decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis. Use your landlord as a reference so they can confirm your risk of housing instability. To ensure an equitable recovery from this pandemic, past harms and current hardships faced by communities of color must be reconciled. Recent analysis estimates that the amount of back rent owed may reach as much as $34 billion by years end, with more than 20 million renters8 million householdsfacing possible eviction by January 2021.31 Renters of color disproportionately report being behind on rent, (see Figure 3) and unpaid rent continues to grow. Rental assistance helps renters and landlords make ends meet. Lost and reduced income has worsened already difficult situations for many. @ Emily A. Benfer, Solomon J. Greene, and Margaret Hagan, Approaches to Eviction Prevention (Social Science Research Network, 2020): available at, Tenant Resource Center, Eviction, available at, Brian Bieretz, Kimberly Burrowes, and Emily Bramhall, Getting Landlords and Tenants to Talk (Washington: Urban Institute, 2020), available at, National League of Cities, Long-Term Approaches to Preventing Evictions Now and Beyond COVID-19, August 7, 2020), available at, Heidi Schultheis and Catilin Rooney, A Right to Counsel Is a Right to a Fighting Chance: The Importance of Legal Representation in Eviction Proceedings (Washington: Center for American Progress, 2019), available at, Oksana Mironova, Right to Counsel and Stronger Rent Laws Helped Reduce Evictions on 2019, Community Service Society, February 24, 2020, available at, Lexington Law, How Long Does an Eviction Stay on Your Record., Office of Ward 3 Councilmember Mary Cheh, Eviction Record Sealing Authority Amendment Act of 2019, Press release, June 18, 2019, available at, Fairness in Renting Emergency Amendment Act of 2020, B23-0940, Council of the District of Columbia (October 5, 2020), available at, Gapard Le Dem, D.C. This term is preferable to Latino, which is not gender-inclusive. You may also be able to find help at DisasterAssistance.gov . If a tenant has a lease or a letter from their landlord theres no need to ask for further documentation. Is it Costing Their Future?, Kim Parker, Rachel Minkin, and Jesse Bennet, Economic Fallout From COVID-19 Continues To Hit Lower-Income Americans the Hardest, Pew Research Center, September 24, 2020, available at, Zego, May Rent Payment Data Reveals April Trends Have Continued as a Result of COVID-19, May 13, 2020, available at, Morgan Baskin, As Eviction Bans Expire, Renters Turn to Credit Cards, Talk Poverty, July 15, 2020, available at, Matthew Desmond, Unaffordable America: Poverty, Housing, and Eviction,, American Heart Association News, Best way to end homelessness and its health impact? Check with your local program for details. Our goal is to put residents on the path to housing stability. Email housingstability@boston.gov or call 617-635-4200 to contact us. Ask for "income recertification" through your Public Housing Agency (PHA) or landlord. Applicants indicate they have received a past due or eviction notice and then are asked if they can provide and upload that document. Allow applicants to progress and self-attest if they cannot provide documentation. As a result, more renters are turning to savings,32 retirement,33 and the newly accepted rental payment method by many landlordscredit cards.34 These methods of staying afloat that so many are now turning to plant the seeds of future financial struggle, as many diminish personal emergency funds and increase debt as individuals and families try to stay housed.35 Tenant advocate groups, researchers, and agencies across the country have identified eviction as a perpetuator of poverty,36 a driver of homelessness,37 and a public health crisis.38, In response to the coronavirus pandemic, some emergency housing protections have been taken at the local, state, and federal levels. American Journal of Public Health, 105(2), 311316. American Progress would like to acknowledge the many generous supporters who make our work possible. Local programs have different requirements. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Policy Development and Research. Desmond, M., & Shollenberger, T. (2015). American Journal of Public Health, 97(3), 464469. This example illustrates how you can structure the section on utility assistance. We use Native American and American Indian interchangeably in this issue brief, as many reports referenced include either or both terms in their data collection. This includes help paying for future utility or energy bills, even if you owe money for existing or overdue bills. If youre experiencing hardship as a homeowner, visit our Help for homeowners page to learn about your options. They must also have reasonable procedures in place to prevent fraud. Affording housing at the expense of health: Exploring the housing and neighborhood strategies of poor families. Defining and measuring housing stability. This form may be completed by one or more individuals within the household in order to demonstrate the household is at risk of doi: 10.1016/j.ssresearch.2011.03.008, H.R.558 - 100th Congress (19871988): Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act. Either way, you must then use the money to pay what you owe. We also use the term Latinx, which includes a person or group of people with origins in Latin American. . A study from the University of Washington that focused on rental housing in Washington state found that, in 2018, neighborhoods with more racial diversity experienced higher rates of evictions.18 Another, earlier study, which looked specifically at King County, Washington, found that nonwhite renters faced eviction rates that were 60 percent higher than those of white renters.19 Controlling for poverty levels, New York City neighborhoods with more Black and Latinx renters also face higher rates of evictions,20 and more Black and Latinx renters than white renters report being threatened with eviction.21 And after looking at data from 2009 to 2011, the Milwaukee Area Renters Study found that Latinx renters in predominantly white neighborhoods were twice as likely to be evicted as Latinx renters in neighborhoods that were not predominantly white.22, People of color disproportionately experience homelessness. We offer free counseling to landlords to support owner and tenant stabilization. If you're becoming a landlord for the first time, this guide can give you an overview of what to expect. If youre a landlord, eligibility is based on your tenants household needs. For additional information on cross-cutting topics, please see the Incarceration, Poverty, and Quality of Housing literature summaries. American Sociological Review, 44(1), 5980. How can I show that I owe money for utility or home energy costs? WebTexas Department of Housing and Community Affairs ESG Program: Examples of Acceptable Documentation for AtRisk of Homelessness Status (Rev. Tackling Climate Change and Environmental Injustice, The positions of American Progress, and our policy experts, are independent, and the findings and conclusions presented are those of American Progress alone. 7301, 116th Cong., 2nd sess. If you cannot find any program in your area, call 2-1-1 or your local housing authority for assistance. Click each of the three boxes below to review eligibility. Your applications will not be fully submitted until your landlord has responded to the recommendation request and has submitted required documentation. RSF: The Russell Sage Foundation Journal of the Social Sciences, 1(2), 4479. This rate of housing cost burden is well over Although they have been able to keep many individuals and families housed, many moratoriums have expired,55 and many renters are faced with paying back rent. These are the first in a series of examples demonstrating best practices for service delivery and can be an inspiration for how grantees may iterate and evolve their applications and programs to better serve tenants and landlords. Receipt due to past Once you click all three boxes, read their content and close the windows, you can click Next to continue. subscribe.submit(); Money from the federal ERA Program is for renters only. Landlord required documents include: doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.1604, Cutts, D. B., Coleman, S., Black, M. M., Chilton, M. M., Cook, J. T., de Cuba, S. E., & Frank, D. A. Use this Area Median Income Lookup Tool from Fannie Mae to find the AMI in your area. When documentation of a rental agreement is unavailable, focus on The goal is to demonstrate ways grantees and their partners can create online application forms that are user-friendly, succinct, and easily understood. Applying for rental assistance may stop the clock on the eviction process if you have a case in Housing Court. WebSample Letter: This sample letter would be used in instances when a community member is unwilling to provide written documentation. http://www.nber.org/mtopublic, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The City supports landlords who rent to Boston residents moving out of homelessness. American Journal of Sociology, 118(1), 88133. (2007). Programs have to make sure they are complying with their own eligibility policies and procedures. Renters in foreclosure: A fresh look at an ongoing problem. Remarks by Assistant Secretary Elizabeth Rosenberg for Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes at the Association of Women in International Trade. "a American Economic Review, 106(4), 855902. hb``` 7@(1)"1@ k? Housing costs exceed 50% of the current household income. The positions of American Progress, and our policy experts, are independent, and the findings and conclusions presented are those of American Progress alone. Housing instability encompasses a number of challenges, such as having trouble paying rent, overcrowding, moving frequently, or spending the bulk of Asking for the total amount that the tenant owes for the utility allows all fees needed to maintain that utility to be included. A full list of supporters is available, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Can Support Racial Equity in Homeownership and Environmental Justice Efforts, The United States Must Deliver on Equitable Housing Outcomes for All, The ARP Grew the Economy, Reduced Poverty, and Eased Financial Hardship for Millions, Why the United States Must Stay the Course on Ukraine, Paid Leave Policies Must Include Chosen Family, The Killing of Tyre Nichols Must Serve as a Catalyst to Root Out Racial Injustice in Policing, 5 Ways Governors and Mayors Can Leverage Federal Investments. Grantees should adjust the content in the help text to be consistent with the specific policies and procedures that have been developed locally. If they do not agree, or if they do not respond within seven days (or within five days, if the program contacts your landlord by phone, text, or e-mail), your local program may be able to give the money to you. 6800, 116th Cong., 2nd sess. Advancing Racial Equity and Justice, Building an Economy for All, Strengthening Health, Affordable Housing, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Poverty, Racial Equity and Justice, Racial Wealth Gap+6More, Associate Director, State and Local Government Affairs, Senior Director, Safety and Justice Campaign; Director, State and Local Government Affairs. Email. National data from the U.S. Census Bureaus Household Pulse Survey (HPS)109which started data collection April 23, 2020, and is ongoingwere used to estimate the experiences of housing stability for renters during the COVID-19 pandemic. (2020). The Office of Housing Stability's Housing Crisis Case Coordinators can help you deal with the eviction process. If your landlord is responsible for paying utilities and home energy costs, these will be treated as rent. Am I eligible for emergency rental assistance? This example shows one way grantees can cross-reference household size and income against a proxy data source on the backend, without putting this onus on the applicant.