MOUNTAINEER RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
The Mountaineer Rental Assistance Program is offered and administered by the West Virginia Housing Development Fund. If you are a renter or landlord who is struggling to pay rent or utilities because of financial hardship during or due to the Coronavirus, you may be eligible for assistance.
Eligibility:
Not all renters are eligible for assistance. In general, the program is designed to assist West Virginia residential renters with annual income of no more than *80 percent of area median income (AMI); and
One or more household members has qualified for unemployment benefits, experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs, or experienced other financial hardship during or due directly or indirectly to the coronavirus outbreak; and
One or more household members are at risk of homelessness or housing instability such as a past due utility or rent notice or an eviction notice.
Households receiving ongoing State, federal, or local subsidy (e.g. Housing Choice Voucher, Public Housing, or Project-Based Rental Assistance) may be eligible to receive assistance for the tenant-owed portion of rent or utilities under certain circumstances.
If you’re a renter struggling to pay your rent or utilities – because of financial hardship during or due to the coronavirus – you may be eligible for assistance through the Mountaineer Rental Assistance Program.
Eligible Expenses may include:
- Past due and current rent beginning April 1, 2020 and up to three months forward rent a maximum of 18 months’ rental assistance
- Past due and current water, sewer, gas, electric and home energy costs such as propane for a maximum of 18 months’ utility assistance
- A one-time $300 stipend for internet expenses so you can use the internet for distance learning, telework, telemedicine and/or to obtain government services
- Relocation expenses – security deposits, application fees, utility deposit/connection fees
- Eviction Court costs
- Recovery Housing Program fees
Generally, rental payments, recovery housing program fees and relocation expenses will be made directly to the landlord and utility payments will be made directly to the utility company on behalf of the household.