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August 26, 2021

Forthcoming program to assist Kansas homeowners experiencing financial hardship

State officials are seeking public feedback to inform a new housing initiative that will support Kansas homeowners in need. The forthcoming Kansas Homeowner Assistance Fund (KHAF), established by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) through the Kansas Office Recovery and administered by Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC), will aim to prevent mortgage delinquencies and defaults, foreclosures, loss of utilities or home energy services, and displacement of homeowners experiencing financial hardship associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

“In less than a year, we’ve provided almost $50 million in emergency rental assistance to Kansas renters, landlords, and service providers,” said Ryan Vincent, KHRC’s Executive Director. “We’re proud to have helped more than 15,000 Kansas households avoid eviction and remain stably housed during the pandemic, but we know our state’s housing needs don’t stop with tenants. Kansas homeowners: Help is on the way.”

Program administrators and state officials welcome public input as they design a program to meet the needs of Kansas homeowners. Community members are invited to share their input three ways:

Join the public webinar Tuesday, Aug. 31, at 10 a.m. to learn about the proposed plan.
Share your experience and expertise by participating in our surveys targeting specific stakeholder groups:
- Homeowners
- Realtors
- Lenders
- Housing counseling and legal services professionals
Subscribe to KHRC’s mailing list and select “Homeowner Assistance” to stay posted on the latest program news and announcements.

Community members are invited to share their input on the initiative. The public comment period will close Sunday, Sept. 12. Program administrators will review the comments received, make any recommended adjustments, and finalize the plan by Wednesday, Sept. 15.

Learn more about the KHAF initiative online.

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Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC) is a self-supporting, nonprofit, public corporation committed to helping Kansans access the safe, affordable housing they need and the dignity they deserve. KHRC serves as the state’s housing finance agency (HFA), administering essential housing and community programs to serve Kansans.

August 6, 2021

Twelve Kansas communities will add a collected 540 affordable homes to their housing stock, thanks to funds awarded through the state’s competitive housing development application process. The awards, totaling $6,806,417, will help finance the construction of 324 new homes and the rehabilitation of 216 existing homes for Kansas seniors and families.

“Our state has long experienced a shortage of quality, affordable housing—a reality that has only been exacerbated by the COVID pandemic,” said Ryan Vincent, Kansas Housing’s Executive Director. “Each of these 540 homes brings us a step closer to ensuring that all Kansans have access to the safe, affordable housing they need and the dignity they deserve.”

The funding, made available through the state’s Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program, the federal HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME), and the National Housing Trust Fund (NHTF), provides incentives to developers, nonprofit organizations, and communities that commit to developing quality, affordable housing. Kansas Housing administers the state’s housing development programs and oversees the competitive application process.

This funding round was the first awarded using the state’s newly revamped Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP), the governing document outlining how development incentives and housing resources are awarded. The revised QAP prioritizes developments that expand housing opportunities in rural areas, provide homes for special needs populations, and address a documented housing shortage, among other factors.

Complete award details are available online.

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Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC) is a self-supporting, nonprofit, public corporation committed to helping Kansans access the safe, affordable housing they need and the dignity they deserve. KHRC serves as the state’s housing finance agency (HFA), administering essential housing and community programs to serve Kansans.

July 28, 2021

Statewide program granting Kansas tenants, landlords $3 million per week

TOPEKA, Kan.— Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC), the state’s housing finance agency, has provided $21,670,326.79 in emergency rental and utility assistance to 4,054 Kansas households experiencing financial hardship as a result of the COVID pandemic. The funds, made available through the Kansas Emergency Rental Assistance (KERA) program, were allocated to the state through the federal Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) previously issued a temporary nationwide halt in residential evictions to prevent the further spread of COVID-19. That moratorium is set to expire on July 31, 2021. Kansans who may be facing eviction due to financial hardship incurred as a result of the COVID pandemic are encouraged to apply for KERA assistance.

“It’s so gratifying to know our team is getting these funds out the door and into our communities where they are so desperately needed,” said Ryan Vincent, KHRC’s Executive Director. “We recognize that the need is vast, and we look forward to providing this crucial assistance to Kansas tenants, landlords, and service providers as the program continues.”

KERA funds helped Gary Evert and his wife Sheryl, a couple in their 70s, remain in their Olathe home. “To anyone else out there who has applied for KERA I would say, ‘Don’t get discouraged. We’re all nervous, but when a customer service representative can calm you down and give you a sense of hope, it’s quite comforting,’” Evert said.

The KERA program previously served Kansans across the state except Wichita residents, who were served by the city’s rental assistance program. Recognizing the importance of serving tenants and landlords in our state’s most populous city, Wichita residents are now eligible to apply for the KERA program, though duplication of benefits is prohibited.

To be eligible to receive KERA assistance, tenants must rent their homes and must have experienced a documented financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Examples of hardship may include qualifying for unemployment benefits, experiencing a reduction of household income, or incurring significant costs due to the pandemic. Additionally, the tenant’s household’s income may not exceed 80 percent of the area median income.

Nyrica Hall of Topeka was facing eviction when she applied for KERA assistance. Her request resulted in funding for rental and utility assistance, as well as a $600 lump sum payment to cover internet service. “When the customer service manager called me back to say my application had been approved, I cried,” Hall said.

KERA applicants must provide the following documentation:

Past due utility bill or overdue rent or eviction notice from April 2020 to the present
Signed lease identifying the residential unit and the rental payment amount
2020 Federal Income Tax Return as filed with the IRS (if tenant hasn’t filed 2020 federal income taxes, their W-2 wage statement and all IRS 1099 forms are acceptable)
Proof of identification, including a current state-issued photo ID, court filing notice, or mail from a federal, state, county, or city agency displaying the rental unit address

Approved KERA applicants are eligible to receive a maximum of twelve months of rental and utility assistance, in addition to reasonable fees and security deposits. Qualified applicants are also eligible to receive a lump sum of $600 in credit to their internet providers to cover past-due or future internet costs, at a rate of $50 per month for 12 months. Tenants may apply for three months of prospective assistance at a time. Program guidelines require tenants and landlords to apply jointly, with payments made directly to the landlord or service provider.

The KERA program builds on KHRC’s success administering the Kansas Eviction Prevention Program, a statewide rental assistance initiative funded by the federal CARES Act in 2020. In the roughly 60 days that program was in statewide operation, KHRC processed 10,138 applications for more than $25.8 million in requested funding, ultimately serving 27,200 Kansans with $17,007,614 in rental assistance.

To learn more, to locate a community partner to assist with the application process, and to apply, visit kshousingcorp.org/emergency-rental-assistance.

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June 24, 2021

June is National Homeownership Month, and we’re pleased to join with Governor Laura Kelly in making the distinction official in Kansas. Homeownership strengthens families, stabilizes neighborhoods, builds communities, and fosters economic growth and prosperity.

KHRC’s First Time Homebuyer Program provides down payment and closing cost assistance for Kansans purchasing their first home. Homebuyers partner with our participating lenders to navigate the process. The program allows homebuyers to apply for a 0% interest loan for 15 or 20 % of the home’s purchase price. The loan is forgiven if the buyer remains in the home for 10 years.

To be eligible, applicants must be first time homebuyers or not have owned a home for three years and earn an income at or below 80% of their area’s median income. Homebuyers must make an investment of 2% but no more than 10% of the sale price from their own funds. The program operates in communities across the state, with the exception of Topeka, Lawrence, Wichita, Kansas City, and Johnson County.

We reached out to our longtime lending partners at First Bank Kansas to get their perspective on the process and the impact of the program.

“It truly is helping people start the dream of owning their home,” said Melinda Foster, a Salina Loan Officer.

KHRC provides training to get lenders up to speed on the program regulations and processes. “The lending process is very similar for all first-time purchasers,” Foster said. “Lots of things are happening at the same time, which allows us to still close within standard turnaround times.”

“There is a lot of information needed and forms signed by the borrower and seller, so the process has to be coordinated to get everything done in a timely manner,” said David Walters, Vice President and Branch Manager of First Bank Kansas in Abilene. “This program does have more requirements than most first time home purchases, but the borrower gets the benefit of generous 15-20% down payment in the form of a grant.”

First Bank officials stress that without assistance, many Kansans may not have the resources they need to purchase their first home. “Most first time buyers struggle to come up with enough cash for a minimum down payment, along with closing costs,” said Walters. “It helps put them in a better financial position, as their house payment is lower with this down payment assistance.”

Foster agrees. “Most homebuyers do not have large resources to put a lot of money down,” she said. “This grant helps them in so many ways.”

Beyond the homeowner benefits, Foster and Walters note that the program offers rewards for lenders as well. “It’s a tool for us to help qualify customers for a home loan,” Walters said of the program. “And also helps the customer buy that home in a financially smart way.”

Homebuyers hoping to take advantage of the program should do their research and start the process early.

“Talk to a home loan lender very early in the process,” said Walters. “They can provide borrowers with all the information needed to qualify them for a home loan, including minimum credit score, income requirements, minimum and maximum debt-to-income ratios, or down payment requirements. All this ‘up-front’ information will help them qualify the borrower for the program and let them know the loan amount and monthly house payment amount they’ll qualify for.”

“Every purchase is a success story,” Foster said. “It is so rewarding working with these homebuyers.”

Ready to purchase your first home? Contact a participating lender to start the process.

Interested in working with KHRC as a participating lender? Contact our team.

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May 31, 2021

“In June of 2020, while Community Action was still operating the pop-up Community Care Station in response to COVID, we met ‘Sally’ and her two children when they used the drive-up windows. They were escaping a domestic violence situation and looking for a means to pay their first few months of rent. While they were at the Care Station, we started an application for rent assistance and also provided her and the children with several days of free food from our emergency food pantry.

Sally’s household was eligible for two months’ rent assistance through United Way funding our agency had leveraged. Staff involved in the transaction were paid for through a combination of CSBG and local government grants. Sally sent her Community Action Partner (our staff member) this email: ‘Thank you so much for your help. This has helped me and my children stay safe and stable. Keeping us going without falling back into our abused past we overcame. Thank you Wendy!’

Nine months later, Sally’s Community Action Partner followed up with to see how the family was doing. We were shocked to learn that in February, 2021, the children and children’s father were in a car accident, and, unfortunately, the children’s father passed away from his injuries. Sally’s children survived with broken arms. The children are going to trauma counseling as well as physical therapy for their injuries. Sally said she’d found herself constantly in and out of doctor offices and therapist visits, and her employer recently let her go because she was missing too much work. Our staff member, Wendy, reported that Sally was really pleased Community Action reached out to her. Sally exclaimed, ‘How did you know I needed you guys again?!’ Sally said she was too shy to call Community Action since she had already received assistance at the Care Station. Our Community Action Partner told her, ‘Not to worry! That’s why we are here and never feel bad about asking for help when it’s needed.’

Sally begins a new job with the Kansas Department of Labor this week. Meanwhile, Community Services Block Grant funds helped Sally avoid utility shut-offs by getting her up to date with her Kansas Gas Services and Evergy electricity bills.”

April 26, 2021

Eight nonprofit community organizations across the state received a combined $133,968 to help low-income Kansans achieve stability and access economic opportunities. The awards, provided through federal Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) discretionary funding, will support initiatives ranging from contactless grocery delivery in a food desert in Leavenworth County, to professional development services for survivors of domestic violence in Sedgwick County, to housing and employment resources for rural youth aging out of foster care.

“The CSBG program aims to reduce poverty, revitalize low-income communities, and empower low-income families and individuals to become fully self-sufficient,” said Marilyn Stanley, KHRC’s CSBG Program Manager. “We’re so pleased to work with our community partners to provide these vital resources to Kansans in need.”

Funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the CSBG program supports local service partners that provide resources and assistance to low-income community members. Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC) serves as the state’s CSBG program administrator. CSBG grant awards fund a range of community services, including job training, financial management education, childcare services, housing and food assistance programs, and more.

Service partners apply for annual and discretionary funding through competitive application processes. Complete award details are available online.

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