Coronavirus Emergency HOME Tenant-Based Rental Assistance Program In Lakewood

Press release from the City of Lakewood:

December 11, 2020

The City of Lakewood’s COVID-19 Emergency HOME Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) Program will provide financial assistance to low income individuals and families in the City of Lakewood who are experiencing a financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The program will provide one-time payments of up to $4,000 per qualifying household to help pay past-due rent from March 13, 2020 through December 31, 2020. No assistance may be provided after December 31, 2020.

While HOME program funds are primarily a resource for the physical development of affordable housing, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development recognizes that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused widespread economic damage and created an unprecedented need for housing assistance among individuals and families directly affected by these unanticipated economic changes.

The City of Lakewood’s COVID-19 Emergency HOME Tenant-Based Rental Assistance Program (TBRA) is subject to the HOME Final Rule 24 CFR Part 92. The program shall comply with the HUD TBRA memo issued on April 10, 2020, as amended, “Suspensions and Waivers to facilitate use of HOME Assisted Tenant-based Rental Assistance (TBRA) for Emergency and Short-Term Assistance in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic.”

Program Eligibility

Households that meet the following requirements are eligible for financial assistance:

• You must rent an apartment or house in the City of Lakewood, WA.
• Your household income is at or below 60 percent of the Area Median Income.
• You must have a valid current written lease signed by the landlord.
• You must be current on rent payments up until the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic – March 13, 2020.
• You must be able to document a financial hardship* that is directly related to COVID-19. The financial hardship must result in the reduction or loss of income (including job loss) after March 13, 2020.
• Must be a US Citizen or have eligible immigration status.

*Examples of COVID-19-related hardships include:

• Loss of income due to reduction of paid work hours due to COVID-19 (examples: laid off, loss of hours, income reduction, etc.);
• Loss of income due to sickness with COVID-19 or caring for a household/family member who is/was sick with COVID-19;
• Loss of income due to compliance with a recommendation from a government health authority to stay home, self-quarantine, or avoid congregating with others during the state of emergency;
• Loss of income due to other factors resulting from the COVID-19 emergency;

You are NOT eligible if:

• You were not employed prior to March 13, 2020.
• You have an unpaid rent balance prior to March 13, 2020.
• You live in Public Housing or receive other government rental assistance (Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, VA, or similar subsidized housing programs)
• You are in the process of being evicted for reason other than unpaid rent.
• You are renting a unit owned by immediate family members. Immediate family ties include (whether by blood, marriage or adoption) the spouse, parent (including a stepparent), child (including a stepchild), brother, sister (including a stepbrother or stepsister), grandparent, grandchild, and in-laws.

Program Income Limits

Compare your household size with the table below. Your household‘s maximum annual gross income must not exceed the limits per family size. For example, if your household has four people, your household’s annual gross income must be $51,900 or less to qualify for the program.

Program Priorities

• Households whose income is at or below 30% Area Median Income
• Households with a head of household who is 62+ years of age or older

How to Apply

Due to COVID-19 health risks, the application is available online or may be obtained via mail by contacting the number below:

LINK TO APPLICATION (tenants to fill out)

LINK TO OWNER CERTIFICATION FORM (owner/landlord to fill out)

RENTAL CONTRACT AGREEMENT (owner/tenant to fill out)

VAWA ADDENDUM(owner/landlord/tenant to fill out)

NOTIFICATION OF LEAD-BASED PAINT AND LEAD-BASED PAINT PAMPHLETS (tenants and owner/landlord to fill out)

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE VENDOR/W-9 FORM (owner/landlord to fill out)

To receive an application via mail, please contact Martha Larkin, Program Coordinator at 253-983-7754. Due to time restrictions and limited funding, it is recommended to download and complete the online application and submit it to mlarkin@cityoflakewood.us

or mail to:

City of Lakewood

Attn: Martha Larkin, TBRA Program

6000 Main St. SW

Lakewood, WA 98499

Completed applications will be accepted until 5:00 p.m., December 11, 2020.

Applications received after this time will not be accepted. Additional applications may be received after this date only if funds remain available and the City reopens its application submittal period. If reopened, the City will provide notification on its website no later than December 15, 2020.

For Assistance Completing an Application contact:

Martha Larkin, Program Coordinator

(253) 983-7754

Required Information and Documents

To apply, tenants must provide their Landlord’s name and email address or telephone number.

Applicants are also required to submit the following supporting documents as part of their application:

• Photo identification for all household members (legal driver’s license, state ID, US Passport or military photo identification)
• Proof of valid Social Security numbers for all household members
• Current lease agreement
• Proof of income prior to the COVID-19 related income loss (march 13, 2020) for all applicable adult members of the household
• Proof of current income to demonstrate income loss for all adult members of the household
• Late rent/delinquency notice
• Property Owner Certification (if you don’t have, the owner may provide to the City)
• Notification of Lead-Based Paint

Property Requirements – Inspection

The City of Lakewood will inspect all properties with children present under the age of 6 years old for defective paint consistent with the requirements of 24 CFR Part 35, subpart M.

Housing units may be inspected for HUD’s Housing Quality Standards (HQS). The City reserves the right to conduct virtual inspections. The City reserves the right to not inspect the unit and instead use property standards checklists provided in the Owner Certification – Emergency HOME Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) and Application for Emergency HOME Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) provided by the owner and tenant, respectively.

Units with existing code violations or those that are not currently registered with the City’s Rental Housing Safety Program (RHSP) will not be considered for assistance. To register your property with the City’s Rental Housing Safety Program, the owner/landlord must visit https://rentalhousing.cityoflakewood.us/, create an account, and register their property.

If an applicant is selected for assistance and the unit is determined to have existing code violations, the landlord/owner will have 5 days to correct the violations; however, under no circumstances will the landlord/owner be allowed to make repair later than December 31, 2020. If the violations are not corrected within 5 days, the city will choose the next eligible applicant on the list.

Landlord Requirements

If approved, the Landlord must:

• Have a current City of Lakewood Rental Housing Safety Program (RHSP) license and not have any delinquent fees owed the City of Lakewood.
• Be current on property taxes.
• Agree to waive late fees, penalties, and interest for back-rent paid under this program.
• Complete the Owner Certification Form.
• Complete the Notification of Lead-Based Paint.
• Complete an electronic vendor payment authorization form. Payments will be made electronically to the registered owner/landlord or management company only.
• Provide a copy of the tenant’s lease.
• Agree to execute a three-party Rental Assistance Contract with the tenant and the Tacoma Community Redevelopment Authority (TCRA) on behalf of the City of Lakewood (“Program Administrator”); RENTAL CONTRACT AGREEMENT
• Agree to modify the tenant’s current lease to include certain protections under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA); VAWA ADDENDUM

Assistance is not available to households living in units owned by immediate family members. Immediate family ties include (whether by blood, marriage or adoption) the spouse, parent (including a stepparent), child (including a stepchild), brother, sister (including a stepbrother or stepsister), grandparent, grandchild, and in-laws.

Frequently Asked Questions

How will applications be selected?

• All applicants who meet the eligibility requirements will have the opportunity to be selected to receive assistance. 35-45 (depending upon amount of assistance requested) applicants will be randomly selected for assistance. Selected applicants will be notified of acceptance via the phone number, email or address provided.

Will there be a waiting list?

• No. Once all the funds are exhausted the City will retire the applicant list.

Will the rental assistance money be paid directly to me?

• No, the funds will be paid directly to your landlord or property management company to be credited to your account.

Should I tell my landlord that I am applying?

• Yes, communication between renters and landlords is important to help make the payment quickly if the renter is approved to receive rental assistance. You will also need to provide your landlord’s phone number, mailing address and email address in your application.

How will my landlord be contacted?

• When you complete your application online you will need to provide contact information for your landlord. Your landlord’s email address is preferred. A secondary option is your landlord’s telephone number. Please be proactive and contact your landlord, tell them about the program, ask for their email address, and let them know that is how they will be contacted if your application is approved.

What if I do not know my landlord’s email address?

• You will have the option of listing your landlord’s email and/or telephone number. We encourage you to be proactive and contact your landlord, tell them about the program, ask for their email address, and let them know they will be contacted if your application is approved. The landlord’s email address will help expedite their verification and payment information if your application is selected.

What if my landlord refuses to participate or does not accept the funds?

• Your landlord cannot be forced to participate in the program or to accept funds. The City of Lakewood cannot provide this payment to the landlord unless they submit the necessary forms. If a landlord declines to accept the funds, the tenant’s application will be denied.

Are students eligible for the program?

• Students do not qualify for HOME assistance unless the individual meets one of the exemptions below.

• Student is:
  • not eligible to be claimed as the dependent of any other individual (e.g. was emancipated as a minor, aged out of foster care, etc.).
  • Over age 24
  • Veteran of the US Military
  • Married
  • Has dependent child(ren)

This press release was produced by the City of Lakewood. The views expressed here are the author’s own.