If you live in South Dakota and fell behind financially due to the pandemic, there is a good chance you may be able to get housing assistance. Many people had a challenging time paying their rent or mortgage throughout the pandemic. This means there are many people who now need assistance so that they don’t become homeless. The SD Cares Housing Assistance program may be able to help.
The SD Cares Housing Assistance program is available only to legal residents of the state of South Dakota. The assistance is open to both renters and home buyers. There are several options available to help you get caught up on your rent or mortgage.
Any of the help that you receive from the SD Cares Housing Assistance program will be in the form of grants. The good thing about grants is that you will never have to pay them back. This gives you a chance to bring your rent or mortgage current without having to worry about trying to pay back the money that helped you do it.
SD Cares Housing Assistance Facts
If you need help paying the rent or mortgage, you may be able to get help through the SD Cares Housing Assistance program. The program is for those who fell behind with their housing payments due to the pandemic. Whether you own your own home or you are renting, you can get money to help you make back payments on what you owe.
Here are some key facts to know about the SD Cares Housing Assistance program:
- The financial help paying rent that is offered through the program is temporary. It’s not an ongoing assistance program.
- Whatever funds you receive do not ever have to be paid back. They are considered to be gifts to help you get back on your feet.
- The program will help you with paying rent, mortgage, or to your utility bills.
- Any payment that you receive to help with your rent or mortgage will be paid directly to your landlord or lender. The payment does not come to you. It will go to who the money is owed, and your account will be credited.
- The money you receive from the SD Cares Housing Assistance Program can be used to pay for your mortgage payment, rent, utilities, and any past due amounts.
Who Qualifies and How to Apply
To qualify for the rent and mortgage assistance through the SD Cares Housing Assistance program, you have to be a homeowner or renter. You also have to meet the lower-income guidelines. Additionally, you have to have been financially impacted by the pandemic, which made you fall behind on your rent or mortgage.
The money for this program is being provided by the federal government. It has been given to numerous agencies to help disburse it. You can apply with one of those agencies to get assistance. They include Western SD Community Action, Lutheran Social Services, Lakota Funds, Grow South Dakota, Codington County Welfare, Helpline Center, and many others.
To apply for help paying your rent or mortgage through the SD Cares Housing Assistance program, you will need some documentation. These include your photo identification, your current lease or mortgage, proof of income, and documentation providing hardship from the pandemic. When applying, it is helpful if you have all of those items handy so that it speeds the application process up.
To begin the application process and verify that you are eligible to receive funds, visit SD Cares Housing Assistance.
Additional Information
The money to help people get caught up on their rent or mortgage comes from the federal government. The money is largely from the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 – Emergency Rental Assistance and the American Rescue Plan. The government passed these acts to provide relief to millions of people who fell behind on their rent or mortgage during the pandemic.
If you need help paying your rent or mortgage, you may qualify for a grant through SD Cares Housing Assistance. The funds are available and ready for people to apply for them. The application process does not take a long time, and only a few items are required to complete the process.
By getting grants to help pay your mortgage or rent through the SD Cares Housing Assistance program, you will be able to pay back the amount that is owed. You will also be able to get caught up and possibly even get ahead. This program can help you with rent, mortgage, and utility payments that are past due.