IHCDA COVID-19 update: A message from Jake
 I am pleased to announce that the state’s Rental Assistance Portal opened this week to begin accepting applications for the Indiana Emergency Rental Assistance (IERA) program. A link to apply along with a series of informational documents in English and Spanish can be found on the top banner of www.indianahousingnow.org.
The IERA program is designed to decrease evictions, increase housing stability, and prevent homelessness by helping renters whose income has been negatively impacted by COVID-19 with rent and utility assistance. IERA can provide eligible renter households with up to 12 months of rental assistance.
Qualifying applicants may also receive utility assistance for past due utilities (electric, gas, water, sewer, and trash), home energy (fuel oil, wood, coal, pellets, and propane) expenses, and assistance with past due expenses for internet/broadband.
Renters living in Elkhart, Hamilton, Lake, Marion, and St. Joseph counties, along with the City of Fort Wayne are not eligible to apply for the IERA program. These municipalities have their own programs. Referral information can be found below:
 None of these local programs are accepting applications yet. However, each municipality has informed us they plan to do so later this month. Renters living in these areas should visit their respective website for additional information and updates as they become available.
In addition to rental assistance, other COVID-19 resources remain available for Indiana households:
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Mortgage Assistance – Indiana homeowners who have fallen behind on their mortgage payments can apply for mortgage assistance through the Indiana Foreclosure Prevention Network (IFPN): 877gethope.org
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Utility Assistance – The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps Hoosier homeowners and renters pay their heat and electric bills: eap.ihcda.in.gov
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Coronavirus Eviction & Foreclosure Prevention Guide – This guide provides questions to frequently asked questions and resources for Indiana households financially impacted by COVID-19 to help them avoid eviction or foreclosure: https://www.in.gov/ihcda/4464.htm
To help you share this information with your network, we recently updated our Housing and Utility Resources for Hoosiers Communications Toolkit. It can be found on our COVID-19 Resources page. I appreciate your help in sharing these important resources.
Thank you to everyone for your continued partnership and support. Please continue to contact me, or any member of the IHCDA team, if we can do anything to help you and your organization. We are #INthistogether.
 J. Jacob Sipe
Executive Director
 
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