The Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC) has announced the launch of the Kansas Emergency Rental Assistance (KERA) program to assist with rent, utility, and internet assistance to individuals and families financially impacted by COVID-19.

We encourage all our members – electric and broadband – who qualify and who need assistance to apply.

The KERA program offers tenants up to 12 months of assistance with current or past due household rent and past due residential utility and internet bills. Utilities covered may include electric, gas, water, sewer, trash removal, and home energy costs. Renters can apply for assistance with all, some, or any one of the services offered.

Both tenant and landlord must apply online. If the applicant meets the eligibility criteria, KHRC will make payments on the tenant’s behalf directly to the landlord or service provider(s).

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. Kansas Governor Laura Kelly designated KHRC to serve as the administrator of the majority of these funds through KERA.

“Keeping Kansans in their homes and businesses – and ensuring they have access to the high-speed internet needed for telehealth, telework, and virtual school – has been a top priority for my administration since day one,” Governor Kelly said in a release. “This program will be critical in ensuring Kansans can stay secure in their homes, stay warm, and maintain access to the internet.”

Applicants must meet all the following criteria:

• Tenant rents their home.

• Tenant’s 2020 household income did not exceed 80 percent of their area’s median income.

• At least one member of the tenant household is experiencing documented financial hardship as a result of the COVID pandemic. Hardship may include loss of employment, reduction in household income, or significant COVID-related expenses (medical bills, personal protective equipment, child care costs, equipment or internet costs to enable online work/schooling, etc.).

• At least one member of the tenant household is uncertain where they will stay or may become homeless without housing assistance.

• Applicant can provide valid proof of identification.

Applicants must not have received assistance from other sources for the same costs and time period for which they are requesting KERA assistance.

The application process is as follows:

1. Landlord completes online certification.

2. Tenant submits online application.

3. Landlord and tenant are notified when application is processed.

4. If approved, landlord and/or service provider(s) receive funds directly from KHRC.

5. Landlord and/or service provider(s) applies assistance to tenant account.

Visit https://kshousingcorp.org/emergency-rental-assistance/ to learn more or begin the application process today.