Kentucky To Begin Accepting Healthy At Home Eviction Relief Applications 2/15

There is no doubt that the global pandemic has had an immense impact on our local communities, leaving many of us unemployed or under-employed and struggling to make ends meet. For some, it has left us in a delicate balance wondering if or when we might find ourselves the victim of an eviction notice or if we are going to be able to keep our lights on. Luckily if you are a resident of Kentucky, there is help available.

Applications will be accepted beginning Monday. February 15, 2021 for the Kentucky Healthy At Home Eviction Relief. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 allocated money from the US Treasury as part of the Coronavirus Relief Fund to be used for emergency assistance to aid tenants in paying their rent and/or utilities during the pandemic.

The application process is open to residents of all Kentucky counties with the exception of Fayette and Jefferson Counties - for those two counties there are separate applications - and begins on Monday February 15, 2021 and will close when all funds have been exhausted. For those who qualify, the assistance will be paid directly to the landlord or utility company in a single lump sum of back payments and up to three months of future payments. Assistance for back rent or utilities can be calculated back to April of 2020.

Get our free mobile app

So who is eligible to apply for assistance through the Kentucky Healthy At Home Eviction Relief application? According to the application website,

• Tenants in any Kentucky county outside of Fayette County and Jefferson County.
• Experienced income reduction/loss or other economic hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Depending on past due bills, tenant applicants may seek assistance with rent, utilities, or both.
• IF SEEKING RENTAL ASSISTANCE: At risk of eviction as evidenced by a past due letter from landlord, a pending court eviction, eviction notice, or similar document
• IF SEEKING UTILITY ASSTANCE: Past due on utility payments as documented in the most recent utility bill. (Utilities paid by the landlord are not eligible for assistance.)
• Gross household income before taxes cannot exceed 80% Area Median Income (AMI). Click Here to look up monthly income limits or annual income limits.
• Are requesting assistance for their primary residence (address where the applicant lives and sleeps).
• If a tenant received some type of short-term assistance, this program cannot duplicate payment for a given month but can assist with rent for other months.
• If a tenant receives monthly rent subsidy (such as Section 8), they are not eligible for HHERF rent assistance but CAN get help with utilities.
• Those living with family and paying rent informally are not eligible.
• Those who own a trailer home and owe rent for a lot are eligible.

There are a number of requirements for landlords as well. To review all of the requirements, as well as to learn what documents are required for both tenants and landlords, visit the application site here. You can also find a PDF of FAQ here.

[Source:Teamkyhherf.ky.gov]