INDIANA RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM A VALUABLE TOOL FOR LANDLORDS AND RENTERS AFFECTED BY COVID-19

Indiana’s moratorium on evictions for nonpayment of rent extended by the Governor on July 30 expires on August 14. Given the hard times that have fallen upon our community, landlords and renters in Indiana should be aware that the state has set aside $25 million from the federal CARES Act to assist with the payment of rents through the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority. At a time where landlords may be struggling to attract new tenants, the Indiana COVID-19 Rental Assistance Program is an option for landlords to recover a portion of their lost rents while keeping up occupancy as we all work to recover from the effects of the epidemic.

Tenants must apply for the assistance, and may be eligible for up to $500 per month for up to four months of rent from April 1 or later. To be eligible, a tenant must have lost income as a result of COVID-19 through an involuntary layoff, reduced work hours, or reduced pay. The tenant’s current household income, including any unemployment compensation, must be less than it was on March 6 when the virus was declared a public health emergency. Further, the tenant cannot have received any prior emergency rental assistance due to COVID-19. Tenants who receive housing assistance through Section 8, USDA, or other government programs are not eligible for this program. All payments provided by the program will be sent directly to landlords, and landlords must opt-in to the program in order for eligible tenants to receive the assistance. For tenants struggling as a result of COVID-19 and potentially facing eviction, this may be an attractive option to present to landlords. For a landlord concerned about the availability of new rents despite the lifting of the eviction moratorium, this program is a potential alternative that landlords may want to share with tenants. Applications are open and more information is available here and the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority’s website.