Message about the Rent Relief Program from MaineHousing

We at MaineHousing continue to work on the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, the new program that will provide rent relief to Mainers who cannot pay their rent due to COVID-19.

We know that many people are struggling. We are working as quickly as we can to get this program up and running. We need to make sure we are following the law AND that we are designing a program that will help Maine people as much as possible and as quickly as possible.

What we do know about the program:

• It is expected to launch in February 2021.
• The program can pay for rent owed back to April 2020.
• YCCAC will continue to run the program in York County.
• You will be eligible to apply for 3 months’ rent at one time. (For example: An eligible applicant can apply in March 2021, with the application covering March, April and May rent.)
• The program is for people who can’t pay their rent due to COVID-19.
• You may be asked for documentation of unemployment, job loss, work hours cut, and other COVID-related income loss
• You do not need to be unemployed to get help from this program.We encourage tenants and landlords to talk to each other about participating in the program because both will need to provide information when applying. We have heard from some tenants that they are facing eviction because they haven’t paid their rent in January. Please note: There is a federal eviction moratorium through March 2021. This means that landlords may not evict tenants due to nonpayment of rent during COVID-19.