Posted April 23, 20249:06 pm
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In “‘Still struggling’: How Clevelanders are getting squeezed by higher rents as assistance dries up,” Signal Cleveland took a look at how most of this federal rental assistance has already been given out. We also examined what not having this funding could potentially mean in the Cleveland metro area, which has ranked high nationally for its high rent increases since the pandemic.
But there is some pandemic rental assistance funding left for Greater Cleveland residents who haven’t rebounded from the COVID-related economic downturn and are still having difficulty paying rent and other housing costs.
Applicants can generally receive up to 18 months in assistance, primarily to pay for back rent. In order to qualify for the pandemic rental assistance, applicants must meet income requirements. For example, a family of four earning up to around $72,000 annually is eligible for the assistance, according to Cuyahoga County.
Kalika Pascol of Garfield Heights and her family of four were behind on the rent two months when she received rental assistance from the nonprofit agency Step Forward, which gave out the last of its rental allotment in March. Pascol struggled to pay the rent after being unemployed for several months. She found a new job and no longer needs the assistance.
“I just don’t know what I would have done if I hadn’t received it,” she said, adding that the family was headed for eviction before she got the funding. “It was a very scary feeling, not knowing whether you would lose your housing and where would you go.”
Below are some resources for pandemic and other rental assistance programs and other housing-related help. This includes free legal help for challenging evictions. Signal Cleveland will update these resources as information becomes available.
Benjamin Rose
Help available: Usually a maximum of 15 months rental and/or utility assistance due to a COVID hardship (e.g. loss/reduction in employment, health issues, etc.). Hardship must have occurred after March 20, 2020.
Who the program serves: Eligible candidates must be low- or moderate-income Cuyahoga residents, who are 55 or older. This means that a family of two can make nearly $58,000 annually and still qualify.
Documentation required: Applicants must provide the following in order to apply.
- Proof of income
- Photo ID
- Signed acknowledgment form (provided by us)
- Lease agreement
- Delinquent utility bills, if applicable
How to apply: Applicants can either apply by phone at 216-791-8000 or online at benrose.org/web/guest/-/rental-counseling-assistance.
Catholic Charities, Diocese of Cleveland, Emergency Financial Assistance
Help available: Assistance with rent and security deposit. Help with gas, water, sewer and electric bills.
Who the program serves: This program is available to anyone who qualifies and lives in Catholic Charities service area, which includes Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Summit, Ashtabula and Wayne counties.
Documentation required: Among the things applicants must prove in order to qualify are income, rent and utility costs. Documents that can be used to verify income include a W-2, 1099, or other Internal Revenue Service tax form, which reports wages. Documents that can be used to verify rent include a lease or letter from a landlord. Current utility bills are needed to verify those gas, electric and related costs.
The entire process can be completed over the phone as long as supporting documentation can be sent via fax, email, or as a picture in a text message. If a person is unable to send verification documents electronically, a time can be scheduled to provide them in person.
How to apply: Applicants can either call the central intake line at 1-800-860-7373, or apply online at ccdocle.org/programs/emergency-financial-assistance)
The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland
Help available: Free legal help related to housing, including evictions. Assistance is offered through programs including those that provide community legal education and legal information. Legal Aid also provides brief legal advice and full representation in housing cases.
Who the program serves: Resident must have incomes of no more than 200% of poverty level. For a family of four, this is a little over $62,000 a year. Legal Aid serves residents of Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain and Ashtabula counties.
How to apply: Residents can apply by phone at 216-687-1900 or online at lasclev.org. Brief advice is also available at neighborhood legal clinics and other events. The current calendar of events is on the website.
Emergency Rental available through various nonprofits
Help available: Cuyahoga County has contracted with EDEN, Inc. to provide emergency assistance via a host of nonprofit organizations. Help is limited to people who are already clients of agencies providing housing and other services aimed at preventing homelessness.
The assistance includes help with paying:
- Security deposit
- First month’s rent
- Past-due rent payments (A tenant must remain in the unit in order to qualify for assistance.)
- Past-due utility payments
- Hotel stay if a participant needs to quickly relocate or find alternate housing for a short time period. (Only up to seven days will be funded.)
- Reasonable late fees. ($25 or 5% of monthly rent is the maximum that will be paid.)
- Other expenses, such as relocation
Who the program serves: A Cuyahoga County resident already being served by a Continuum of Care agency. Applicants must apply through these agencies:
This is a list of the Continuum of Care agencies that have access to the funding:
- The Taskforce of Greater Cleveland
- Bellefaire
- Care Alliance
- Catholic Charities (Bishop Cosgrove)
- The Centers
- CHN Housing Partners
- City of Cleveland Department of Aging
- City Mission
- Cleveland Metropolitan School District – Project Act
- EDEN
- Fairhill Partners
- Famicos
- Family Promise
- FrontLine Service
- FrontLine Service Coordinated Entry
- FrontSteps Housing & Services
- Humility of Mary – Opportunity House
- Jewish Family Services Association – Hebrew Shelter
- Joseph & Mary’s Home
- Journey Center
- Legal Aid Society of Cleveland
- Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry 2100 Men’s Shelter
- Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless (NEOCH)
- Nueva Luz Urban Resource Center
- Cleveland Rape Crisis Center
- Salvation Army PASS
- Salvation Army Zelma George
- Signature Health
- Stella Maris
- University Settlement
- West Side Catholic Center
- Y-Haven
- YWCA Norma Herr Women’s Center
- YWCA
Source: Signal Cleveland - Where to find housing assistance in Greater Cleveland