The Kansas Emergency Rental Assistance (KERA) program, launched on March 15, provides rent, utility and internet access assistance to households experiencing financial hardships because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The program is accepting applications until Aug. 1 at https://kera.kshousingcorp.org/kera/. The Aug. 1 deadline allows staff to process as many applications as possible, according to a spokesman.
The assistance covers up to 12 months of rent and rental arrears, money past due, up to three months of prospective rent at a time, even if the household does not have rental arrears, and past due residential utility and home energy such as electric, gas, water, sewer and trash services, and internet costs.
The KERA program is funded through the federal Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021, which provided the state of Kansas nearly $200 million in rental assistance funding. The Kansas Housing Resources Corp. (KHRC) serves as the administrator of the majority of these funds through the KERA program.
Those eligible to apply include tenants who rent their home, tenants whose 2020 household income did not exceed 80 percent of the area’s median income, households where at least one member is experiencing documented financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, or at least one member of the household is uncertain of where they will stay or may become homeless without housing assistance.
To apply for the program, both the tenant and their landlord must apply online via a joint application process. The landlord completes online certification and the tenant submits the online application. The landlord and tenant are then notified when the application is processed. If approved, the landlord or service provider receive funds directly from the Kansas Housing Resources Corp. The landlord or service provider then applies assistance to the tenant’s account.
To learn more about the Kansas Emergency Rental Assistance Program, the qualification and application process, visit the KHRC website at https://kshousingcorp.org/emergency-rental-assistance/ or call 785-217-2001.
According to the Board of Public Utilities, when a customer makes an application for these funds from the state of Kansas, the customer will receive a proof of prequalified application notice back from the state identifying their application as submitted.
Applicants must then notify BPU customer service as soon as they receive the email application notice from the state. BPU will allow the customer to receive service for 30 days without disconnection while it works with the state to make adjustments.
If the customer’s prequalified application is rejected, the customer must also contact the BPU and the utility will advise the customer about making an application for other assistance they may qualify for. When BPU customers receive their application notice, they should not only call customer service at 913-573-9190 but also send their notice from the state to [email protected], according to the BPU.
A BPU spokesman said that customers are encouraged to stay current with their bills to avoid getting too far behind and if anyone has any BPU billing or customer service questions, they can call 913-573-9190 and a utility representative is available to assist.
I need to apply asap
I can’t download any of the paperwork that is asked . I need help to file my application before I get evicted from my rental house. Is there a place that I can go to get the help to fill out the paper work.