(see Figures 1 and 2) With communities of color also navigating the collective pain of higher rates of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths,30 they must face additional medical and funeral costs in addition to potential lost employer-sponsored health insurance and reduced household income due to unemploymentor worse, the loss of an income-earners life. Proof of rental obligation; 3. Association of residential mobility with child health: An analysis of the 2007 National Survey of Childrens Health. Our aim is not just to change the conversation, but to change the country. You apply through your local emergency rental assistance (ERA) program. Example screens for ERA program online applications (2015). WebMy household is experiencing housing instability due to (please select all options that apply to your households circumstances): Receipt of a rental eviction notice. WebAll housing subsidized under 24 CFR 574.300 (b) (3), (4), (5), and (8), including units assisted under HOPWA tenant-based and project-based rental assistance, must be safe and sanitary. Each local program has some flexibility in how they set up policies and procedures to suit the needs of their local community. 176 0 obj <>stream `HU9xB4O7003p;X$hkboii`s:i@ZDc*@ HB3 If a tenant has a lease or a letter from their landlord theres no need to ask for further documentation. When you apply for emergency rental help, be ready to show an agreement signed by you and your landlord that shows where you live and your rental payment amount. This HEROES package originally included key protections, such as $100 billion in emergency rental assistance, a uniform federal moratorium on evictions, and $11.5 billion in homelessness aidsupports that were responsive to the direct asks of advocates, experts, and critical-need communities. A sort of homecoming: Incarceration and the housing security of urban men. American Sociological Review, 44(1), 5980. Ask for "income recertification" through your Public Housing Agency (PHA) or landlord. Four in 5 landlords use criminal background screening when evaluating tenant applications,101 and people with criminal records are often ineligible for public and supportive housing programs.102 These barriers disproportionately affect people of color and contribute to the cycle of housing insecurity and incarceration.103 Repealing these restrictions and practices while jointly adopting automated record-clearing programs, such as the Clean Slate Initiative,104 would help provide access to affordable housing and keep people lodged. Council Considers Bill To Seal Eviction Records, DCist, June 19, 2019, available at, David Thacher, The Rise of Criminal Background Screening in Rental Housing,, Weiss, Housing Access for People with Criminal Records., Reentry and Housing Coalition, Barriers to Housing, available at, Clean Slate Initiative, Home, available at, Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, Americans Rental Housing 2020 (Cambridge, MA: 2020), available at, Loren Berlin, Using Housing to Fight Discrimination Against People with Disabilities, Urban Institute, April 24, 2019, available at, Guzman and Skow, Multigenerational Housing on the Rise, Fueled by Economic and Social Changes., Elliott Anne Rigsby, Understanding Exclusionary Zoning and Its Impact on Concentrated Poverty, The Century Foundation, June 23, 2016, available at, U.S. Census Bureau, Measuring Household Experiences during the Coronavirus Pandemic, available at. To find the latest CAP resources on the coronavirus, visit ourcoronavirus resource page. If your landlord is responsible for paying utilities and home energy costs, these will be treated as rent. You can also get help with rent for the lot that your home sits on, even if you own your manufactured home. Moving to Opportunity for Fair Housing. But this depends on your local program. Web Proof of disability or disabling condition. Proof of financial impact; 4. They restrict access to resources, increase criminal-legal involvement for many, perpetuate poverty,72 have not been found to be effective in decreasing homelessness, and cost taxpayers more than if housing were provided to people experiencing homelessness.73, Anti-homeless legislation disproportionately affects Black, Native American, and Latinx individuals, who are often already more justice-involved.74 People who are not currently experiencing homelessness may also be targeted by these laws, which advocates argue do more harm than service and should be litigated.75, During the COVID-19 pandemic, public health experts and local law enforcement have differed in their approach to anti-homeless laws. When documentation of a rental agreement is unavailable, focus on proving residence and monthly rental amount. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. The affordable housing crisis: Residential mobility of poor families and school mobility of poor children. 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 Protecting programs that include a race-conscious approach means vetoing harmful actions such as the recent Executive Order on Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping,85 which will punish government contractors and nonprofits who provide trainings on race and sex diversity, equity, and inclusion by withholding federal grants for these lifesaving programs.86 It also means protecting the FHA87 and reviving the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing provisions that combat housing discrimination and promote community participation.88. var onSuccessSubmitenSubscribeFooter = function() { Here's a snapshot of the objectives related to topics covered in this literature summary. If you're becoming a landlord for the first time, this guide can give you an overview of what to expect. experiencing homelessness or housing instability; and c. the household is a low-income family (as such term is defined in section 3(b) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. Get lawyer referral services and information at Housing Court. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwn182, National Bureau of Economic Research. Continues Encampment Cleanups During The Pandemic Despite CDC Guidance, DCist, October 15, 2020, available at, Theresa Clift, Sacramento police still clearing homeless CDC coronavirus guidelines discourage it,, Jakob Rodgers, Sweeps Of Homeless Camps Run Counter To COVID Guidance And Pile On Health Risks, KHN, June 26, 2020, available at, Marisa Westbrook and Tony Robinson, Unhealthy by design: health & safety consequences of the criminalization of homelessness,, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Interim Guidance on People Experiencing Unsheltered Homelessness., Movement for Black Lives, What Is the BREATHE Act?, available at, Movement for Black Lives, Section 3: Allocating New Money To Build Healthy, Sustainable & Equitable Communities for All People, available at, National Alliance to End Homelessness, The Framework for an Equitable COVID-19 Homelessness Response, available at, Executive Office of the President, Executive Order 13950: Executive Order on Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping, Press release, September 22, 2020, available at, National Council of Nonprofits, The Executive Order on Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping, available at, U.S. Department of Justice, The Fair Housing Act, available at, National Fair Housing Alliance, Furthering Fair Housing, available at. If they do rely on your written statement, the program you apply to needs to review your household income again every three months to make sure you remain eligible. Can I get help with rent and utility bills from last year? If youre a landlord, eligibility is based on your tenants household needs. Web(e.g., proof of residence at an eligible rental unit in the absence of a lease/rental/sublease agreement) Financial Impact (e.g., unemployment, reduction in i ncome, significantly increased expenses, or other financial hardship) Housing Impact (e.g., risk of housing instability or homelessness) Income qualification (2015). Local programs might also rely on a caseworker or other professional who knows about your situation to certify that your income qualifies for emergency rental assistance. Cutts, D. B., Meyers, A. F., Black, M. M., Casey, P. H., Chilton, M., Cook, J. T., & Frank, D. A. As frameworks such as those in the BREATHE Act specify, those communities most affected by both past harms and the current pandemic must be included at all levels of policy and decision-making. https://www.hud.gov/topics/rental_assistance. American Journal of Public Health, 101(8), 15081514. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. endstream endobj startxref How stable is stable? Hardships disproportionately faced by communities of color are being exacerbated by the pandemic and require an equitable recovery that reconciles past harms while also providing solutions for current and future challenges. WebHow can I provide proof that I am at risk of housing instability to qualify for assistance? doi: 10.1257/aer.20150572, Ludwig, J., Sanbonmatsu, L., Gennetian, L., Adam, E., Duncan, G. J., Katz, L. F., & McDade, T. W. (2011). More research is also needed to identify how to reduce the negative effects of housing instability on health outcomes and health disparities. The state of the nations housing 2014. WebWhen completing a Housing Stabilization Services Eligibility Request, eligibility documentation must be attached. Atlantic County Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) For example, tenant-landlord mediation programs that intervene once an eviction is threatened or filed can explore options and negotiate solutions prior to court involvement to ultimately prevent an eviction.92 A mediation program in Palo Alto, California, reports that 80 percent of mediation cases are able to be resolved outside the court.93 If an eviction filing does occur, guaranteeing renters a right to counsel can also help to keep them housed.94 In eviction proceedings, approximately 90 percent of landlords have legal representation, compared with just 10 percent of tenants.95 This vast inequality in resources leads to the majority of tenants losing these cases. This example shows how in these instances, you can ask for documentation of the rental address and evidence of past rental payments or allow tenants to self-attest. 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. The Office of Housing Stability's Housing Crisis Case Coordinators can help you deal with the eviction process. The Office of Housing Stability (OHS) is constantly looking for new ways to partner with undergraduate and graduate students. Programs have to make sure they are complying with their own eligibility policies and procedures. It allows the applicant to fill in each month they are asking for assistance on, as well as any fees, and calculates the total amount of assistance requested for them. This example illustrates progressive disclosure, by revealing one question at a time, dependent on the previous answer the applicant provided. The use of fact-specific proxy describes the scenario where a grantee re-affirms a tenant's income self-attestation by cross-referencing it with income data about a particular population and/or a particular geographic area. It is clear that the coronavirus pandemic is affecting renters of color differently, exacerbating past inequality, and leading the path to a future of worsening inequality. Some programs may also provide housing counseling, case management, legal representation, and other housing stability services. subscribe.submit(); 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. Mia Ives-Rublee, Justin Schweitzer, Michela Zonta, Natasha Murphy, Osub Ahmed, Marina Zhavoronkova. To ensure an equitable recovery from this pandemic, past harms and current hardships faced by communities of color must be reconciled. WebLiterature Summary. Housing Stabilization Services if(subscribe.checkValidity()) { This example attempts to capture a range of factors that can lead to risk of housing instability or homelessness. Housing instability encompasses a number of challenges, such as having trouble paying rent, overcrowding, moving frequently, or spending the bulk of household income on housing.1,2These experiences may negatively affect physical health and make it harder to access health care.1,3,4This summary will discuss the cost of housing as well as the health effects of substandard housing and forced evictions. If your landlord refuses to participate in the program (after repeated requests from us), you may be eligible to receive direct payment of the financial award. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 32(4), 357367. I was living somewhere else, earlier in the pandemic. 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. Yes, your local program may offer help with utility or energy costs alone. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 21(1), 7177. If you need help paying your past and future rent. How can I show where I live and how much rent I agreed to pay? Certain populations, such as children who move frequently and people who have spent time in prison, may be more affected by housing instability. 7301, 116th Cong., 2nd sess. doi: 10.1177/0192513X14530970, Joint Center for Housing Studies. Click each of the three boxes below to review eligibility. Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) Frequently Asked There has been a long history of housing insecurity for people of color in the United States due to racially targeted policies and widespread discrimination, particularly within the rental housing market. (June 24, 2020), available at, Protecting Renters from Evictions and Fees Act of 2020, S. 4097, 116th Cong., 2nd sess. These example pages can be used by program administrators and staff or vendors in building or modifying ERA applications. Proof of income qualification; Examples of acceptable forms of each document type are provided below. For example, having an eviction on ones credit report and/or public record can affect ones ability to secure housing.97 Local legislation, such as Washington, D.C.s Eviction Record Sealing Authority Amendment Act of 201998 and Fairness in Renting Emergency Amendment Act of 2020,99 could help people looking to rent by sealing eviction records to prevent landlords from denying an applicant housing based on public records.100. As part of your ERAP application, you are required to provide contact information for your landlord and submit a "recommendation request" to your landlord. Due to historic and current policies as well as systemic racism in housing, criminal justice, education, employment, and health care, people of color are more likely to experience homelessness across their lifespan.23 As a result, communities of color are overrepresented in the homeless population, with nearly 40 percent of people experiencing homelessness identifying as Black, 22 percent as Latinx, 3 percent as Native American, and 2 percent as Pacific Islander.24 These racial disparities are only expected to worsen due to the impacts of the neglectful mismanagement of the coronavirus pandemic.25, Although housing insecurity affected communities of color long before COVID-19, the current pandemic continues to exacerbate inequalities. Can I get help with the cost of moving to a new home? Get Tarrant County Rental Assistance [Top Tips] - DoNotPay The intention is to help tenants see themselves and/or their situation within the checklist options offered and to avoid asking tenants to provide a narrative. This includes help paying for future utility or energy bills, even if you owe money for existing or overdue bills. But you can get help to cover the part of the rent that you are responsible for. , an advocacy organization dedicated to improving the lives of all Americans. These crowded places put people at higher risk of getting COVID-19. The CDC halt was announced in early September, more than a month after the expiration of the CARES Act moratorium and a week after the end of the first set of 30-day notices of intent to evict. Acceptable Proof of Risk of Homelessness or Housing Instability Published by Articulate Storyline www.articulate.com Lost and reduced income has worsened already difficult situations for many. For details, start with the rental assistance programforyour state, tribe, or localarea. endstream endobj startxref How can I show that I owe money for utility or home energy costs? 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.). To be eligible for help covering your rent, you must have an agreement to pay rent for your home or mobile home lot. Or, you might qualify for a hardship exemption that allows you to skip one or more rent payments. implementation of new programs and policies that the office is exploring. Money from the federal ERA Program is for renters only. https://www.congress.gov/bill/100th-congress/house-bill/558, Schanzer, B., Dominguez, B., Shrout, P. E., & Caton, C. L. (2007). The link between neighborhood poverty and health: Context or composition?. Rental assistance helps renters and landlords make ends meet. National Center for Children in Poverty, Columbia University. For instance, if your rent is subsidized by a federal agency like the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), you cant get help from your local program to cover the federally subsidized portion of your rent. If youre experiencing hardship as a homeowner, visit our Help for homeowners page to learn about your options. WebProof of identity, which may include a clear and legible photo identification or other means of identification through id.me Lease or housing agreement that matches the applicant and landlord names. Then you must use the money to pay the landlord or utility yourself. This would require using AMI data from sources such as: This example involves confirming income eligibility by relying on the applicant's participation in other income-tested federal or state assistance programs. How do I apply for emergency rental assistance? Proof of identity; 2. If you apply for help with utilities, be ready to show a bill, invoice, or proof of payment to the utility company or home energy service provider. Prevent evictions, July 16, 2019, available at, David Elliot, CDC Agrees: The National Eviction Crisis Is a Public Health Emergency, Coalition on Human Needs, September 2, 2020, available at, National Low Income Housing Coalition, COVID-19 & Housing/Homelessness, available at, National Low Income Housing Coalition, Housing Needs By State, available at, Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act of 2020, Public Law 136, 116th Cong., 2nd sess. Recent analysis estimates that the amount of back rent owed may reach as much as $34 billion by years end, with more than 20 million renters8 million householdsfacing possible eviction by January 2021.31 Renters of color disproportionately report being behind on rent, (see Figure 3) and unpaid rent continues to grow. But many families who do not become homeless face If its hard for you to show income or job loss, or if you have a special situation, local programs may let you write out your own statement about your income. The federal ERA Program allows local programs to cover rent, utilities, and home energy costs. In Syracuse, almost 55% of our renters spend 30% or more of their income on housing costs, including rent and utilities. People experiencing housing instability reportedly face a number of barriers that prevent them from finding and applying for employment. Tenants: Innocent victims of the nations foreclosure crisis. Your local program should let you know how their system for prioritizing applications works. WebResidential instability is often addressed only at the point of homelessness and is treated as a family or household problem. The question Did you pay your last months rent or mortgage on time? (Question 30) was asked in Phase 1 of the HPS, which includes weeks 1 through 12 (April 23 to July 21, 2020). As many as 64 million people in the United States live in a multigenerational household,12 which is prompted by cultural, economic, and many other factors. If you live in a manufactured home or mobile home, you can get rental help. The question Is this household currently caught up on rent payments? (Question 40b) was asked in Phase 2 of the HPS, which includes weeks 13 through 16 (August 19 to October 12, 2020). E[n5zw %y_Tld2et8@T ``^EX, ( 6Cp{ &!FI$,R Despite the success of rental assistance, roughly 16 million low-income households that need rental assistance (that is, households that spend more than 30 WebRISK OF HOUSING INSTABILITY FORM . of Housing (2011). Grantees should adjust the list of utilities, and the examples of each utility, to ensure the utilities listed are consistent with the specific policies and procedures that have been developed locally. Housing Policy Debate, 26(1), 172187. Research Shows Rental Assistance Reduces Hardship and Provides 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. This requires both emergency and long-term solutions at the local, state, and federal levels. There are multiple ways to prove a risk of homelessness or housing instability, including: The calculated household income is less than 30% of the AMI. Crowding: Risk factor or protective factor for lower respiratory disease in young children?. Desmond, M. (2012). dataLayer.push({"event": "signup_submit", "form_detail":"enSubscribeFooter"}); RISK OF HOUSING INSTABILITY FORM These can be a model that grantees may be able to learn from and use to help reduce their processing bottlenecks, barrier bust documentation hurdles for tenants, and therefore, keep people stably housed. Be sure to offer self-attestation if the applicant cannot provide any documentation. 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.