Coronavirus Rent Assistance

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Rent Assistance

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Washington State Department of Health Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Website
Washington State Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response Website
COVID-19 related Blogs from Washington State Department of Health

Public Health Connection
BienestarWA (Spanish Language)

COVID-19 Resources from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Media Contact

For additional questions, please contact Tom Webster, Office of Housing and Homeless Prevention Manager at (360) 280-6265 or thomas.webster@co.thurston.wa.us.

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Thurston County Rent Assistance is closed to new applications for ages 25 and up.

HEN and RRH Communication Update (new) 8/8/2022

Effective 11:59 PM June 15, 2022

Applications submitted by June 15, 2022 will remain in line to be processed.

Applications transferred from the Community Action Council (CAC) and/or have confirmed the applicant is in eviction proceedings will continue to be prioritized.
Due to an extremely high volume of applications, those submitted on or after June 1, 2022 may not be processed due to insufficient funds.

This rent assistance program is funded by the American Rescue Plan and the CARES Act to help renters recover from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. This program is not expected to receive more funding.

Contact Information:

RentAssistance@co.thurston.wa.us

360-490-7648 (due to a large volume of calls, email is preferred)

Rent Assistance for Young Adults, ages 18-24, is available at Community Youth Services.

AGES 18-24 ONLY

Submit your request to apply online or by email. If you don't have access to internet or email, call to request assistance.

RentSupport@CommunityYouthServices.org
(360) 280-8114 – Call or text. Please don't leave more than one voicemail.
www.CommunityYouthServices.org

A separate rent assistance contract specifically for young adults is also funded by the American Rescue Plan and the CARES Act to help renters recover from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. This funding for young adults is expected to last through late 2022.

How Do I Apply?
- Rent Assistance for Young Adults, ages 18-24, is available at Community Youth Services.
  AGES 18-24 ONLY
  Submit your request to apply online or by email. If you don't have access to internet or email, call to request assistance.
  RentSupport@CommunityYouthServices.org
  (360) 280-8114 – Call or text. Please don't leave more than one voicemail.
  www.CommunityYouthServices.org
  
  Thurston County Rent Assistance is now closed to new applications for ages 25 and up.
  Applications submitted by June 15, 2022 will remain in line to be processed.
  Applications transferred from the Community Action Council (CAC) and/or have confirmed the applicant is in eviction proceedings will continue to be prioritized.
  Due to an extremely high volume of applications, those submitted on or after June 1, 2022 may not be processed due to insufficient funds.
  Contact Information:
  RentAssistance@co.thurston.wa.us
  360-490-7648 (due to a large volume of calls, email is preferred)
Eligible Households
- • Have 2021 or current gross income at 80% or less of Area Median Income (AMI). Households with incomes at 50% or less of AMI and those currently on unemployment will be prioritized.
  • Are experiencing financial hardship directly or indirectly due to COVID-19.
  • Are at risk of experiencing homelessness or currently experiencing housing instability.
  • Most non-traditional or informal rental situations, including hotel stays, mobile home lot rentals and single room rentals can be covered.
  Number of household members 80% of AMI (Thurston County)
  1 $50,550
  2 $57,750
  3 $64,950
  4 $72,150
  5 $77,950
  6 $83,700
  7 $89,500
  8 $95,250
What Do I Need To Apply?
- • Income verification for all household members (W-2s, pay stubs, etc.).
  • Lease or rental documents.
  • Any unemployment documentation.
  • Landlord contact information, including email.
  • You are not required to provide immigration status.
  Download this Rent Assistance Application Worksheet to help you organize and prepare your online application.
How Much Of My Rent & Utilities Can Be Covered?
- • This program can cover rent up to 150% of Fair Market Value and not more than the total amount owed.
  • This program can cover rent past due since March 13, 2020.
  • This program can cover three months of future rent at a time. Households can reapply after each three-month period for up to 18 months of total assistance.
  • This funding can assist with past due utilities, including Internet.
How Can Landlords Participate?
- • Landlords can share this opportunity with their tenants and encourage them to apply.
  • Landlords will need to provide their most recent W-9 form and lease or rental documents.
  • Rent payments go directly to landlords. They'll need to agree to accept payment from Community Action Council.

Thurston County Rent Assistance Reports

Distribution of Thurston County Rent Assistance Since April 2021*

Organization	Total Households Served	Total Financial Assistance Provided
Community Action Council (serving ages 25 at CAC and up and all ages through partner organizations)	3902	$27,989,035.98
Community Youth Services (serving only ages 18-24)	196	$1,551

*As of February 15, 2022

Distribution of Thurston County Rent Assistance for 2020

In 2020, funding for Rent Assistance programs began in August as a response to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Organization	Total Households Served	Total Financial Assistance Provided
Community Action Council (serving ages 25 and up at CAC and all ages through partner organizations)	1290	$2,983,836.61
Community Youth Services (serving only ages 18-24)*	100	$304,827.43

*In 2020, Community Youth Services was contracted directly with the Washington State Department of Commerce. The funding they received in 2020 did not go through Thurston County Office of Housing & Homeless Prevention. In 2021 this changed and the funding for CYS to administer Rent Assistance is now contracted from Thurston County.

Other Reports

LiveStories/FORWARD Reporting Dashboard

Community Youth Services Reports (coming soon)

Quarterly Reports (coming soon)

Annual Reports (coming soon)

How Is Rent Assistance Funded?
- To help address the economic impacts the COVID-19 pandemic has had on low- and moderate-income households, Thurston County is providing rent and utility assistance to help people maintain their housing. Through a mix of local, state and federal funding, these resources are targeting low- and moderate-income renter households who need assistance paying rent, past due utility bills and other eligible housing costs. This program benefits both renters who are struggling to make payments as well as the property owners who may have lost rental income during the pandemic. Funding for Rent Assistance programs must be spent by September 2022.
Thurston County Eviction Information and Resources
- • Eviction Information for Thurston County, WA
  • Spanish
  • Eviction Resolution Pilot Program at Dispute Resolution Center of Thurston County
  • Housing Justice Project at Thurston County Volunteer Legal Services
  • Northwest Justice Project
  • Landlord-Tenant Information Washington State Office of the Attorney General
  • Washington State Eviction Hotline: 855-657-8387
Flyers, Reports, and Additional Resources
- Additional information coming soon
  
  • Washington State Department of Commerce - Rent Assistance Funding
  • U.S. Department of the Treasury - Rent Assistance Funding
Rent Assistance Suspension and Transfer 2/24/22 – 4/30/22
- Update 4-14-22: Thurston County Rent Assistance will start taking new applications on May 2
  Update 4-1-22: LiveStories has started processing rent assistance clients who started applications with Community Action Council
  
  Update 3-15-22: Thurston County signs contract with LiveStories. CACLMT agrees to share client information
  
  Update 03-08-22: Rent Assistance to move to LiveStories for operation
  
  Update 03-01-22: Thurston County Suspends Rent Assistance Contract with Community Action Council
  
  Letter to the Thurston County Rental Housing Community from County Manager, Ramiro Chavez

Public Health and Social Services Contact Information

During business hours call 360-867-2610
WA Relay: 711 or 800-833-6388
Public health emergency call 1-800-986-9050
Medical emergency call 911
COVID-19 Business Group

COVID19ThurstonPHSS@co.thurston.wa.us
360-867-2634

State COVID-19 Assistance Hotline

Call 1-800-525-0127

Then press #

Hours:

Monday through Friday 6:00am - 10:00pm
Saturday and Sunday 8:00am - 6:00pm

Language

Press 2 for Spanish
For other languages wait and request an interpreter

Or text 'Coronavirus' to 211-211

For Spanish reply 'esp' to the hotline message

No-Cost Telehealth COVID-19 Treatment

Number of household members	80% of AMI (Thurston County)
1	$50,550
2	$57,750
3	$64,950
4	$72,150
5	$77,950
6	$83,700
7	$89,500
8	$95,250