Wednesday, February 15, 2023
Help is available for Utah renters struggling to pay their rent
Urban Living
Posted By Babs De Lay on February 15, 2023, 4:00 AM
Are you or a family member struggling with rent? There's good news and bad news. First, the good news: Help is available to SLC households through the Utah Rent Relief program. It can help cover past-due rents, or prospective housing costs.
To qualify, renters must be unemployed and show a risk of housing instability, such as an eviction notice or overdue payment. Household income can't exceed 80% of the median income ($81,900) for a family of four. Call 211 or visit rentrelief.utah.gov.
I've written before on the H.E.A.T. program (job.utah.gov/housing), Utah's version of the federal LIHEAP program. This provides year-round energy and water bill assistance for eligible low-income households. You can apply online or call 866-205-4357. The maximum income is 150% of the Federal Poverty Level.
The state offers a weatherization assistance program that enables low-income folk to improve energy efficiencies—like insulation, weather stripping and the like. When I owned my first home, it had very little attic insulation. I spent just a few hundred bucks to blow in the stuff and it cut my heat/AC bills in half instantly!
You can always call 211, the Human Services Directory, and they will direct you to the right agency for your needs. You can also call Dominion Energy Assistance, or bill pay assistance through the Home Electric Lifeline Program (HELP), the Salvation Army Salt Lake Branch, Catholic Community Services or Jewish Family Services. The religious nonprofits don't have a requirement that you go to their church to receive assistance.
The bad news is the Utah Department of Workforce Services is halting a program that boosted food stamps and offered emergency help with rent and utility costs. Congress had doled out funds, but now that COVID-19 has slowed the program is ending.
The Salt Lake Tribune reported that in March, "roughly 74,000 Utah households that had been getting an extra $175 to $200 a month ... will stop receiving that stipend."
Sadly, there have been several cases locally (and nationally) where people's SNAP cards were stolen or skimmed and their accounts drained to nothing. The government doesn't reimburse SNAP clients for any losses, unlike when your bank account gets drained by some a--hole scammer and your bank reimburses you.
People in Massachusetts sued the state because it wouldn't reimburse fraud victims. Utah hasn't joined the suit, to my knowledge.
About The Author
Babs De Lay
A full-time broker/owner of Urban Utah Homes and Estates, Babs De Lay serves on the Salt Lake City Historic Landmark Commission. A writer and golfer, you'll find them working as a staff guardian at the Temple at Burning Man each year.
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