LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The pandemic brought on by COVID-19 is still having a major impact on people and their day to day lives. Many are struggling to pay bills and some face eviction.
With eviction moratoriums expiring in cities across the nation, many tenants are desperately trying to find help. In some cases renters' fate depends on where they live and who they rent from. Reach out to your landlord or property management company to ask for leniency.
Here's a list of options in Louisville
Leaders in Louisville have set up help via an Eviction Prevention COVID-19 Relief Fund. They started accepting applications on Wednesday, July 1, 2020. Applicants must live within Louisville/Jefferson County.
Individual households earning at or below 60 percent of the area median income ($45,840 annually for a family of four) are eligible to receive rental assistance.
Landlords of federal, state or locally subsidized units may also apply on behalf their tenants.
To be eligible, the landlord must:
- Be currently registered on the Rental Registry.
- Have no outstanding code violations for the property for which rent is being paid.
- Waive all late fees, fines, and penalties.
- Forgo evictions for assisted tenants for 60 days after assistance is provided.
- Provide pre-COVID-19 rent rolls to document delinquency rates before and after the pandemic.
The funds may only be used to pay rent, and all payments will made directly to the landlord.
Louisville landlords information:
Landlords may apply for assistance on behalf of their tenants to the Office of Housing. To be eligible, the landlord must:
- Be currently registered on the Rental Registry.
- Have no outstanding code violations for the property for which rent is being paid.
- Waive all late fees, fines, and penalties.
- Forgo evictions for assisted tenants for 60 days after assistance is provided.
- Provide pre-COVID-19 rent rolls to document delinquency rates before and after the pandemic.
Utilities
Major utility companies announced in March they are willing to work with customers who have fallen on hard times due to the pandemic.
You should contact your provider as soon as possible, you're having a hard time making monthly payments.
Homeowners
Numerous mortgage lenders have said they are willing to work with distressed borrowers, including potentially suspending or reducing payments. Contact them immediately to find out about your options.
If you hold a mortgage backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac — about half of all mortgage holders do — there is help. The mortgage buyers have suspended all foreclosures and evictions for homes owned by their companies. They've also expanded their forbearance program, which could suspend payments for up to a year. Ask the company you make your payments to if you hold a Fannie or Freddie loan.
Renters' fate depends on where they live and who they rent from. Reach out to your landlord or property management company to ask for leniency. Several cities, such as Seattle, San Francisco and Boston, have halted evictions due to the coronavirus.
Contact them immediately to find out about your options.
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