Frequently Asked Questions: Capitol City COVID-19 Rental Assistance Program

***January 14, 2021 Update***

Thank you for your interest in the COVID-19 Rental Assistance Program. We have reached the maximum number of families we are able to serve with the available funding. As a result, the program cannot grant any additional funding at this time. We will keep applications on file and have added applicants who were not awarded funds to a waitlist for consideration should additional funding become available at  a later date. We encourage families in need of additional assistance are encouraged to look into the resources listed below.

  • The federal government has extended the ban on evictions to January 31, 2021.
  • To learn about additional local resources, schedule an appointment with the City of Baton Rouge’s Office of Community Services to learn about assistance with rent, mortgage or utility bills.
  • Organizations such asSoutheast Legal Services may provide free legal services to eligible clients pending eviction.
  • You can also complete theCDC Declaration to Halt In Evictions to Prevent Further Spread of COVID-19 and submit to your landlord if you meet the eligible requirements.
  • The Louisiana Workforce Commissionoffers information about unemployment benefits and job opportunities.

***

Thank you for submitting your application for Capital City COVID-10 rental assistance. We received thousands of applications and are  processing the applications in the date and time order received as swiftly as possible to assist as many families as possible. It is our goal to help as may families as possible with the limited resources available. Thank you for patience.  For your convenience, we would like to share our next steps as well as answers to frequently asked questions.

Due to the high volume of applications, we ask that you read this list of frequently asked questions in its entirety.  We also encourage you to regularly visit  this page for updates to these frequently asked questions.

Next Steps
We are currently processing applications, and rental assistance will be provided until funding runs out. Our team will:

  1. Review the application
  2. Notify/contact the applicant
  3. Gather applicant documentation
  4. Determine program eligibility
  5. Notify eligible applicant
  6. Notify/contact the applicant’s landlord
  7. Verify applicant information with landlord
  8. Gather landlord required documentation
  9. Notify approved applicants
  10. Submit a payment request for the City of Baton Rouge to release funds
  11. Submit rental assistance to the landlord directly

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the status of my application?
All applications successfully submitted have a status of “received,” and no further action is required at this time. If your application status changes, you will be notified.

Was my application received?
There are two ways that you can rest assured that your application was received.

  1. All applicants received a confirmation notice when the application was received. No further action is needed.
  2. All applicants with valid email addresses have been notified via email.  No further action is needed.

What are the eligibility requirements of the program?
Eligible applicants must:

  • Experience economic harm due to COVID-19
  • Reside in City of Baton Rouge
  • Meet HUD income requirements
  • Be at least 30 days behind on rent at the time of the application
  • Not have received rental assistance in the last 6 months from any organization or agency
  • Not receive or live in a unit that receive a governmental housing subsidy

Has my application been approved?
Applications are being reviewed daily and as swiftly as possible. We will notify you if your application is approved. No further action is needed.

I submitted the application but have not received an email from you?
This can happen for several reasons:

  1. The email may be in your spam/junk e-mail folder. Please check this folder for any e-mail from us.
  2. The email provided was spelled incorrectly on your application. If this is the case, we will contact you via the phone number on your application. However, if you have received an email from us, then no further action is needed.

Can I visit your office to talk to someone about my application?
Due to ongoing concerns with COVID-19, we are unable to assist or answer questions in person as we continue to practice social distancing and health safety precautions.

How can I submit or upload additional documents needed for my application?
If additional information is needed, we will contact you with instructions once we start processing the application for eligibility. Unless you are contacted by our staff requesting documents, no documents will be accepted at this time.

I meet all application requirements.  Will my application be approved?
It is our goal to help as may families as possible, but resources are limited.

Will I be notified if my application is not approved?
Yes.

Can you provide my landlord a letter stating that I will receive rental assistance since I applied?
We cannot provide you or your landlord with a letter until your application is fully approved. If your application is approved, both you and your landlord will be notified.

My landlord is requiring that the rental assistance be paid to me instead of the landlord. What should I do?
Due to program requirements, the rental assistance must be paid to the landlord directly.

I am pending eviction, what should I do?
We understand the urgency and need for assistance during this time and are processing applications as swiftly as possible.  We are giving preference to applicants who are elderly, disabled, and pending eviction until funding runs out. In addition, there are more community resources available to families during this time.

  • Organizations such as Southeast Legal Services may provide free legal services to eligible clients pending eviction.
  • You can also complete the CDC Declaration to Halt In Evictions to Prevent Further Spread of COVID-19 and submit to your landlord if you meet the eligible requirements.
  • The Louisiana Workforce Commission offers information about unemployment benefits and job opportunities.

Can I call you about the status my application?
We want to dedicate our resources to quickly process as many applications as possible and are not accepting calls regarding the status of applications at this time. If we are currently working on your application, you will be notified.  We also encourage you to regularly visit  www.urecbr.com/covidrapfaq for updates.