ERAP CAN HELP RENTERS AND LANDLORDS

By Kevin Tunell, Yuma County Communications Director

YUMA COUNTY RECENTLY announced its partnership with the Western Arizona Council of Governments (WACOG) to launch a new Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) to provide financial assistance and housing stability to residents throughout Yuma County. Funding will be used for rent and utility relief for renters and landlords including direct payments for rent, rental arrears, utilities, utility arrears, and other expenses related to housing stability caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Yuma County Board of Supervisors approved the program Feb. 1. The U.S. Treasury provided $6,504,589 to Yuma County from the federal Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 passed by Congress to provide relief to households impacted by COVID-19. Program information is available on the County’s Emergency Rental Assistance webpage.

The Yuma County ERAP will serve renters in Yuma County only. Renters affected by the pandemic will be able to apply for up to a total of $3,500 in rental and utility assistance per month for up to fifteen (15) months of assistance. Payments will be issued directly to landlords and/or utility companies on the renter’s behalf.

Eligibility Requirements:

Eligibility is based on the renter’s ability to meet the following criteria:

• The renter has a risk of homelessness, housing instability, or unsafe living conditions demonstrated by any of the following:

• Eviction notice

• Utility shutoff notice

• Past due rent notice

• Past due utility notice

• Any other evidence of unsafe or unhealthy living conditions or housing instability

• The renter or member of the renter’s household is eligible for unemployment insurance benefit or has experienced a financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic

• The renter’s household income is less than or equal to 80% of the Area Median Income.

• Landlord agrees to provide necessary information for payment and guarantee no eviction of the renter after payment.

Assistance priority will be given to renters with household incomes under 50% of the Area Median Income and to those who have been unemployed 90 days or longer.

County residents will be able to submit applications through WACOG’s Emergency Rental Assistance website, or by calling the WACOG office at 928-217-7144. Paper copies of the application are available at the following locations:

• WACOG office – 1235 S. Redondo Center Drive, Yuma

• Yuma County Administration building – 198 S. Main Street, Yuma

• All Yuma County Library locations

• Neighborhood Services, Yuma City Hall, 2nd Floor

• Somerton City Hall-143 N. State Avenue, Somerton

• San Luis City Hall- 1090 E. Union Street, San Luis

• Wellton Town Hall- 28364 Oakland Avenue, Wellton