Kansas Emergency Rental Assistance (KERA)
The Need
Home has never been more important. Our homes have always provided shelter, but in the midst of the COVID pandemic, home has also become our virtual classroom, workplace, marketplace, and gathering space.
While moratoriums have provided tenants with protection from eviction and temporary assistance has helped some tenants cover rent payments, the bills continue to accrue each month, leaving families unsure how they will pay arrears, and leaving landlords without income.
Audience Served
KERA serves Kansans, including those residing in the city of Wichita, who have had difficulty paying or collecting rent, utility, or internet payments due to the COVID pandemic.
Funding Source
The Kansas Emergency Rental Assistance (KERA) program is funded through the federal Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021. Governor Kelly designated Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC) to serve as the administrator of the majority of these funds through the KERA program.
Program Description
The Kansas Emergency Rental Assistance (KERA) program provides rent, utility, and internet assistance to households experiencing financial hardship as a result of the COVID pandemic. Landlords and tenants apply via a joint online process. If the application is approved, the landlord or service provider receives funds directly from KERA and applies KERA funds to the applicant’s account. Approved applicants are eligible for up to 12 months of assistance.
KERA METRICS TO DATE
Total Applications Submitted
Applications in Process
Households Served
Funding Provided
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet all of the following criteria:
- Tenant rents their home.
- Tenant’s 2020 household income did not exceed 80 percent of their area’s median income.
- At least one member of the tenant household is experiencing documented financial hardship as a result of the COVID pandemic. Hardship may include loss of employment, reduction in household income, or significant COVID-related expenses (medical bills, personal protective equipment, child care costs, equipment or internet costs to enable online work/schooling, etc.).
- At least one member of the tenant household is uncertain where they will stay or may become homeless without housing assistance.
- Applicant can provide valid proof of identification.
Applicants must not have received assistance from other sources for the same costs and time period for which they are requesting KERA assistance.
Application Process
- Landlord and tenant jointly complete separate online certification.
- Landlord and tenant are notified when application is processed.
- If approved, landlord and/or service provider(s) receive funds directly from KHRC.
- Landlord and/or service providers(s) applies assistance to tenant account.
What does assistance cover?
- Up to 12 months of current and past due household rent.
- Up to three months of prospective household rent at a time, even if the household does not have rental arrears.
- Past due residential utility or home energy expenses for tenants (electric, as, water, sewer, and trash services), even if the household does not have rental arrears.
- Past due or prospective internet expenses for tenants, paid in one lump sum of $600, provided the tenant household is also eligible for assistance with for past-due rental or utility bills.
- Additional fees associated with past-due rent or utility bills, including: reasonable late fees, rental security deposits, application or screening fees, pet fees, utility fees, parking fees, garage fees, and/or legal fees.
Note: All expenses must have been billed or charged April 1, 2020 or later
Partner Search
Need help completing or submitting your KERA application? Our community partners are standing by to assist you. Use our search tool to find the partner serving your county, and contact their team for support.
KERA in the News
BPU extends utility cutoff moratorium until Aug. 4 – Wyandotte Daily – Jul. 22, 2021
Kansas bolsters COVID-19 rental-assistance program – KSHB 41-Kansas City – Feb. 16, 2021
Pandemic assistance: Governor announces $200M for renters – Salina Post – Feb. 16, 2021
$200 Million In Statewide Rental Assistance Becomes Available – KSCB News – Feb. 16, 2021
New emergency rental assistance program coming in March – KAKE-TV – Feb. 11, 2021
Wichita prepares to launch rental assistance program – KWCH 12 – Feb. 4, 2021
Questions?
Contact KERA@kshousingcorp.org
This project is being supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number ERA0032 awarded to Kansas Housing Resources Corporation by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
