Cuyahoga County
You may qualify for rent assistance through a program called Northeast Ohio Rent Help. The program is funded by Cuyahoga County and the City of Cleveland and administered by CHN Housing Partners. You can apply for assistance at https://chnhousingpartners.org/rentalassistance/
If you qualify through, your landlord may receive up to three months back rent. Depending on the nature of your hardship, CHN may refer you to EDEN (Emerald Development and Economic Network, Inc.) for additional rent assistance. CHN will screen you for other available assistance as well.
Priority in the program is given to people facing eviction. CHN will only process applications that are complete with accurate information and all required documentation.
The program has income eligibility guidelines and, if you qualify for assistance, you may be required to attend more in-depth financial counseling, provided by CHN, as a condition for payment of the rental assistance.
If you are interested in rent assistance, contact CHN as soon as possible. There are limited funds available, and it is uncertain how long they will last. Also, CHN will need time to process your application and issue funds; it may take weeks to do so, so it is best to apply early.
Lake and Geauga County
You may qualify for rent assistance through the Eviction Prevention Program at Lifeline, Inc. In order to apply for these funds, you should contact the Fair Housing Resource Center (FHRC) at 440-392-0147 for a referral.
The FHRC can negotiate with your landlord and make rent assistance referrals for your back-owed rent to avoid an eviction action being filed against you.
If an eviction action has already been filed against you based on nonpayment of rent, and your inability to pay is related to COVID-19, you should contact Legal Aid’s Intake Department immediately.
Ashtabula County
You may qualify for rent assistance being administered by Catholic Charities of Ashtabula County. For information, contact them directly at (440) 992-2121.
If an eviction action has already been filed against you based on nonpayment of rent, and your inability to pay is related to COVID-19, you should contact Legal Aid’s Intake Department immediately.
You may also qualify for rent assistance being administered by Ashtabula County Community Action Agency (ACCAA). ACCAA will be operating two Home Relief Programs between February 2021 and December 31, 2021 (unless funds are exhausted prior to the end of the year) to provide a range ofrental assistance, mortgage assistance, water/sewer assistance, trash assistance, and heating/electric assistance. Funds are federal and are provided through the Governor's office and the Ohio Development Services Agency (ODSA). Click here to inquire about eligibility and apply.
Lorain County
You may qualify for rent assistance being administered by the United Community Assistance Network (UCAN). To apply for assistance please visit https://www.ucanapply.org/ From this site, you will be directed to select your zip code to take you to the appropriate application.
For residents outside of the cities of Lorain and Elyria, rent assistance is being administered by Lorain County through their Community Housing Impact and Preservation (CHIP) Program. In response to COVID-19, Lorain County has amended their CHIP program to include an Emergency Housing Assistance Program.
For those who qualify, the Emergency Housing Assistance Program can provide up to 3 months of rent or mortgage assistance for economic hardships that occurred due to COVID-19
To apply for these funds, you must submit this application and return it to the Lorain County Community Development, 226 Middle Avenue, 5th Floor Elyria, OH 44035. If you have questions, contact the Lorain County Community Development Office at 440-328-2322.
You may also qualify for rental assistance being administered by the Lorain County Community Action Agency (LCCAA). To apply for assistance, as well as to inquire about eligibility and document requirements, click here.