The Mountaineer Rental Assistance Program is a program instituted by the state of West Virginia to assist people in the payment of their utilities and rent for up to 18 months. Utilities covered under this program include sewage, water, energy, electricity, and gas. The program also grants a stipend of $300 to help cover fees for the internet. The program can also be used to cover other charges such as deposits on utility payments, eviction costs, and down payments
How Do I qualify for the Program?
The following requirements must be met to be eligible for the Mountaineer Rental Assistance Program:
The earnings of the applicant must be 80% less than the Area Median Income. There must have been a decrease in the income of at least a family member or the costs of living in the household must have increased due to the pandemic. If the applicant can demonstrate that they or a member of their family met the requirements for unemployment, had large expenditures, experienced a reduced income during the pandemic, or experienced any sort of financial hardship due to the pandemic, such applicant may be considered. There also has to be someone at risk of being homeless in the household of the applicant. Providing evidence of past missed rent notices, a notice of utility disconnection, and notices of eviction can serve as proof of the instability of housing.
The program has been allocated a huge sum of money to propagate it; $260 million. As of August 2021, about $15 million had been spent.
Who are those not eligible for the program?
Since the aim of this program was to assist those with problems regarding housing, not everybody is going to benefit from it. The following are people who do not qualify for the program:
Those who own apartments in which they reside. The income of your household is 80% or more of the 2020 Area Median Income. If you or your household are recipients of rental help of any kind. This help might come from the municipal, state, or federal government.
Is it possible to apply for the Mountaineer Rental Assistance Program by myself?
If you meet the requirements for application to the program, proceed to the following steps: Visit the program website for more information. You can either apply as a landlord or tenant by clicking the respective option on the homepage. Create an account by providing an email address and choosing your password. Supply the requested information and click on the “Register Account” button. When this is done, a message will be sent to the email address you used for registration. The verification will contain a link that you can use to verify your email. Click the link and it will guide you through the verification process. You can now use the login details to start the application process. After verification, you’ll be redirected to the Welcome page. You can then select the person you are applying as; a landlord or tenant.
Conclusion
Asides from the deadly effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, other spheres of society were also affected. There was a restriction on movement in most places round the world, lockdowns became common, businesses closed, and people lost their jobs and thus their means of livelihood. This meant some people could not pay for amenities such as water, energy, and even shelter. This is the main reason the Mountaineer Rental Assistant Program was founded. It aims to assist those who cannot meet up with their home payments in West Virginia and it has seen success. Programs like these are important because they help maintain good financial health.
Is there a limit on the amount that can be given? No. The assistance offered has no cap but households may receive it for a maximum period of 18 months to cover living and utility expenses. Are the payments for rent and utilities made directly to me? Only under special circumstances will payments such as these be made directly to the tenants. Payments are made directly to the landlords. The landlords would also be requested to confirm the number of rental assistance payments that have been requested. Meanwhile, the utility bills of the applicants will be sent directly to the providers. If I’ve been able to pay for my rent by using credit cards and taking loans from friends, will I be reimbursed? Only unpaid rents are going to be cleared by the MRAP. Those that have been settled are left as they are, no matter the method by which you used to pay for them. What are some expenses that are eligible under the MRAP program? Unpaid past and current rent, unpaid past and current utility bills, and internet fees.
