proof of housing instability
However, if you have overdue rent, the money you get must go toward rent that you owe before it can be used for future rent. To do so, specifically when it comes to rental housing, requires: Renters of color face discrimination in obtaining and maintaining housing. Each of the following examples demonstrates elements of those guidelines. For details, start with the rental assistance programforyour state, tribe, or localarea. (2016). Ask for "income recertification" through your Public Housing Agency (PHA) or landlord. This example would document unsheltered experiencing homelessness or housing instability, which may include (i) a past due utility or rent notice or eviction notice, (ii) unsafe or unhealthy living conditions, or The Center for American Progress is an independent nonpartisan policy institute that is dedicated to improving the lives of all Americans through bold, progressive ideas, as well as strong leadership and concerted action. WebHow can I provide proof that I am at risk of housing instability to qualify for assistance? A study examining data from New York City recently found that evictions increase the likelihood of a person being hospitalized up to two years later and increase the probability of hospitalization to address a mental health condition.63, People who have been evicted are also more likely to apply to stay in shelters, as well as spend more days living in shelters.64 Pacific Islander, Native American, Black, Latinx, and Asian communities already face higher rates of homelessness,65 and once pushed into homelessness, families encounter a pileup of inequities.66 When stable housing is not available, people often confront criminalization due in large measure to anti-homeless legislation.67 They also suffer from food insecurity,68 declines in physical and mental health,69 and further barriers to obtaining future housing.70, Anti-homeless legislation and ordinances are present in 9 out of 10 cities, and their passing and enforcement have been on the rise.71 These laws criminalize specific public behaviors and make it possible to punish people experiencing homelessness who are simply looking to meet their basic needs and may have no other alternatives. Whereas, applicants who reply that they havent received a past due or eviction notice, are instead asked whether they have experienced other housing risks. WebProof of Housing Instability Acceptable Documents may include: Disconnected Utility Notice Self-Declaration of Homelessness Self-Declaration of Housing Instability Identification of Find out if emergency rental assistance applies to your special situation. In other areas, landlords need to submit an application first. But many families who do not become homeless face Rental assistance cant be used to cover any utilities and home energy costs that your landlord normally pays for. American Sociological Review, 44(1), 5980. 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. WebFederal Programs and Funding to Prevent Housing Instability and Homelessness The CARES Act provides additional flexible funding to state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, Long entrenched, racially targeted policies and practices at the local, state, and national levels have led to discriminatory practices and disparities in rental housing.4 The Fair Housing Act (FHA) of 1968 prohibits discrimination against applicants and tenants based on various identities, including race.5 Yet despite the FHA and its amendments, overt and subtle racial discrimination still occurs. Proof of financial impact; 4. (March 27, 2020), available at, The Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act of 2020, H.R. 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. Communities of color, disadvantaged from a long history of racism that has undermined their financial stability and housing security, now find their hardships further exacerbated by the ongoing pandemic. http://nlihc.org/sites/default/files/Renters_in_Foreclosure_2012.pdf [PDF 428 KB], Busacker, A., & Kasehagen, L. (2012). Ask your local program about the total amount of help available to you. The Office of Housing Stability's Housing Crisis Case Coordinators can help you deal with the eviction process. Jaboa Lake is a senior policy analyst for the Poverty to Prosperity Program at the Center for American Progress. Renters and landlords can find out what emergency rental assistance covers, how it works, and whos eligible on the interagency housing portal hosted by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). (2013). This microsite is coordinated by the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Find Rental Assistance Programs in Your Area, Take Action To Avoid Eviction Using the CDC Order, Start a Conversation About Rent Repayment, Protections for Renters in Multi-family Housing or Federally Subsidized Housing. The questions and answers above are based on the Department of the Treasurys revised Frequently Asked Questions on emergency rental assistance (ERA) . In Syracuse, almost 55% of our renters spend 30% or more of their income on housing costs, including rent and utilities. We also have information on emergency resources for tenants. Journal of Community Psychology, 42(8), 964979. %%EOF Keep copies of important documents like your lease agreement, rent receipts, security deposit receipts, and any written communications with your landlord. If youre a landlord, eligibility is based on your tenants household needs, and youll be asked to show that your tenants household is eligible for assistance. When moratoriums on evictions do expire, renters will face an accumulation of owed back rent. Programs have to make sure they are complying with their own eligibility policies and procedures. If your landlord normally pays for utilities or home energy costs, these are counted as part of your rent. doi: 10.1002/jcop.21665, Cutts, D. B., Meyers, A. F., Black, M. M., Casey, P. H., Chilton, M., Cook, J. T., & Frank, D. A. (June 24, 2020), available at, Protecting Renters from Evictions and Fees Act of 2020, S. 4097, 116th Cong., 2nd sess. To show housing instability, you may need to sign a written statement. Federal rules allow local rental assistance programs to cover rent or utilities for low-income families. Can I get help with rent and utility bills from last year? 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. Additionally, people with criminal records continue to face barriers in obtaining rental housing. } doi: 10.2307/2137103, Cardoso, M. R. A., Cousens, S. N., de Ges Siqueira, L. F., Alves, F. M., & DAngelo, L. A. V. (2004). 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 Where can I find out if my household qualifies for rental help? Proof of income qualification; Examples of acceptable forms of each document type are provided below. 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. Allow applicants to progress and self-attest if they cannot provide documentation. WebTo show housing instability, you may need to sign a written statement. check with your local program for details, Reasonable late fees (if not included in your rental or utility debt), Moving expenses and other rental-related fees (such as security deposits, application fees, or screening fees) for families who have to move, You had to move out of your home and you dont have a permanent home elsewhere, You can provide hotel or motel bills or other evidence of your stay, and, Your local program follows the rules for this emergency rental assistance. These policies and practices continue to keep people of color in poverty. implementation of new programs and policies that the office is exploring. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. The Office of Housing Stability (OHS) is constantly looking for new ways to partner with undergraduate and graduate students. Neighborhoods with more renters of color face higher rates of eviction. to contact us. Meanwhile, the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act42the anticipated relief package that was originally passed in the U.S. House of Representatives in Mayand a revised version of that bill passed by the House in October43 have yet to be introduced in the U.S. Senate. What can I use to show housing instability? 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. But you can get help to cover the part of the rent that you are responsible for. Based on conversations with grantees and tenants, it can be difficult to describe and document financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 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. But money from the Homeowner Assistance Fund created under the American Rescue Plan Act may also be available. Gove, W. R., Hughes, M., & Galle, O. R. (1979). US housing insecurity and the health of very young children. These three statements also need to be true: Eligibility is based on a renter households financial situation and housing needs. Defining and measuring housing stability. Each week, theOffice of Housing Stabilityhosts a virtual legal clinic for small landlords and tenants. Wehelpresidents find and maintain stable, safe, and affordable housing. Sarnata Reynolds, Caroline Medina, Molly Weston Williamson, Rachael Eisenberg, Brandon Tucker, Hadi Sedigh. American Journal of Sociology, 118(1), 88133. These filings are then reflected negatively on tenants credit reports and public records.59 When a tenant is evicted, loss of housing can fuel cycles of multigenerational poverty.60, Across their lifetime, 1 in 5 Black women are evicted, compared with 1 in 15 white women.61 The threat of eviction is a stressful event with negative health impacts.62 Even if housing is not lost, the eviction process can have negative effects on the health of household members. Harvard University. To estimate percentages, total respondents were adjusted for missing responses and only those who responded that they pay rent were included. 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. Click each of the three boxes below to review eligibility. Proof of housing instability. It doesnt matter how long you have been living in your current rental home. Including a section on past assistance that was received from other programs can help identify and prevent any overlap in assistance given to the applicant. Grantees should adjust the content in the help text to be consistent with the specific policies and procedures that have been developed locally. It also provides more granular data for program administrators. 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.