Do I qualify?
Before applying for rental assistance, you should make sure you qualify.
There are four main qualification criteria:
- Rental status: You must be behind on your rent.
- Income level: You must be earning below $38,000 per year if you live alone. If you live with one other person, the two of you can earn up to $43,500. With three other people, you all can earn up to $54,300.
- Financial hardship: You must have had some sort of “financial loss” due to COVID-19. That can mean a lot of things, such as proof you caught the virus, that you took time off work or you had extra expenses.
- Location: You must live in Shelby County.
What will it cover?
The program will cover up to 12 months of past due rent and utility bills.
Payments will be sent directly to MLG&W and the property owner. If your landlord doesn’t want to accept the payment, the city or county will give the money directly to you, so you can pay your landlord or find new housing.
How do I apply?
The easiest way to apply is through home901.org. If you don’t have internet access, call 211 for assistance.
Applications are accepted only during the first two weeks of the month.
To apply, you will have to provide photos of your lease, along with proof of how much you owe, your income and your financial hardship.
Be patient: It may take months to learn if your application was approved, especially if your landlord has not filed for an eviction against you.
This story is brought to you by MLK50: Justice Through Journalism, a nonprofit newsroom focused on poverty, power and policy in Memphis. Support independent journalism by making a tax-deductible donation today. MLK50 is also supported by these generous donors.