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New Clark County program designed to help people pay for housing, utilities

Posted at 6:50 PM, Jul 25, 2020
and last updated 2020-07-25 21:50:56-04

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Rental assistance is available in the state, which could help hundreds of families that are worried about their rent, mortgage and even utility payments.

County officials expect that this will stop evictions for hundreds of residents in the valley, who could be losing their homes due to a COVID-19 financial hardship.

It’s called The Cares Housing Assistance Program (CHAP) and it has $50 million to distribute in our county.

PREVIOUS STORY: Clark County launching Housing Assistance Program

“The state, through recent actions, took $20 million from their Relief Act and pass that into our county to funnel into this program as well. So, we have $50 million to be able to help people who have already found themselves in a past situation all the way through March”, said Tim Burch, Clark County Administrator of Human Services

While that may sound like a lot of money, Tim Burch shared they’re aware that they man run out of it fast, since there could be as many as 100, 000 household in this community that are expected to need assistance.

Households must be residents of Clark County (including all incorporated cities) and demonstrate the financial impact of COVID-19 and the household income cannot exceed 120% of the Area Median Income. The amount of assistance you may receive will be depending on your income and demonstrated need.

“That really means that a working family of 4 that makes up to 60 thousand a year who was laid-off and exhausted their savings paying rent, can still come to get assistance”, expressed Burch.

There following 14 local nonprofits and agencies will be helping with the application process, but you only need to apply to one of them.

  • Economic Opportunity Board of Clark County
  • Emergency Aid of Boulder City
  • Family Promise of Las Vegas
  • HELP of Southern Nevada
  • HopeLink of Southern Nevada
  • Jewish Family Service Agency
  • Lutheran Social Services of Nevada
  • Money Management International, Inc.
  • Neighborhood Housing Services of Southern Nevada, Inc.
  • Nevada Partners, Inc.
  • Safe Nest: Temporary Assistance for Domestic Crisis, Inc.
  • Southern Nevada CHIPs Community Health Improvement Program
  • The Salvation Army
  • United Labor Agency of Nevada Inc

Proof of citizenship is not required, but there are other requirements that are needed to qualify.

Here is a list of the required documentation (this list is not all inclusive):

  • Photo Identification, regardless of state origin.
  • Copies of Bank Statements
  • Verification of household members through lease agreement or identification
  • For Rental/Mortgage Assistance: Copy of current lease or mortgage statement in the name of the person (or other household member) requesting assistance.
  • For Utility Assistance: Copy of current utility bill in the name of the person (or another household member) requesting assistance.
  • Documentation to support COVID-19 financial impact that resulted in one of the following:

– Loss of employment
– Reduction in work hours
– Furlough from employment
– Reduction in income/salary due to reduced business revenue

  • Documentation may include but is not limited to:

– Past paystubs prior to COVID-19 and current paystubs to demonstrate loss in income
– Proof of Unemployment Insurance Benefits (UIB)
– Bank Statements indicating a loss in income
– 2019 filed income tax return
– Other documents that indicate a loss/reduction in income related to COVID-19

  • For self-employed or business owners: Copies of bank statements beginning February 2020 and 2019 filed income tax return
  • Participating Landlord Verification Form (will be sent by the CHAP provider agency)
  • Client COVID-19 Impact Statement (will be sent by the CHAP provider agency)

More information about the CHAP program can be found at: https://helphopehome.org/clark-county-cares-housing-assistance-program/.

Landlords and property managers can find information and registration at: https://helphopehome.org/cares-housing-assistance-program-important-information-for-landlords/