Listen Live

INDIANAPOLIS$25 million in federal money will be used to help Hoosiers struggling to pay rent because of the coronavirus.

At a press conference Wednesday, Governor Holcomb announced the Indiana COVID-19 Rental Assistance Program. That program will use the $25 million from the CARES Act.

“This has been a very challenging time for Hoosiers, and the economic impacts of COVID-19 has left some renters in a tough spot,” Holcomb said. “The Indiana COVID-19 Rental Assistance Program will support our renters, improve our state’s housing stability, and help prevent evictions as the state gets back on track.”

It will provide up to $500 in assistance for four months, totaling a maximum of $2,000 in assistance to eligible renters. It would help cover past and ongoing rent payments or late fees. This money is available to people in all Indiana counties except Marion, where a $15 million CARES Act-funded program will provide help to Marion County renters.

The state says about 12,000 Indiana households could be helped. The landlord will need to agree to the program and commit to not evicting a renter for non-payment until the rent is over 45 days delinquent.

Applications will be accepted online beginning at 9 am Monday, July 13 at www.indianahousingnow.org. 

Eligibility requirements for the state program include:

-Experienced a loss of income from involuntary job layoff, reduced work hours or reduced pay due to the public health emergency.

-Current household income, including unemployment, must be less than household income on March 6.

-Household must not have already received emergency rental assistance as part of the COVID-19 response.

-Must not already receive rental assistance, such as through Section 8 vouchers or USDA assistance.

-Payments will be made directly to landlords.

Back on April 1, Holcomb issued an executive order protecting tenants from being evicted because of the pandemic through June. On Wednesday, Holcomb announced he will extend that order through July.