Rebecca joined The State in 2020. Finance and Development Authority (SC Housing). The funding was made available through ERA (ERAP), which was enacted in December 2020.. SC Stay Plus is for renters only; the program will not You can fill one out through their online portal or by calling 803-336-3420. Payment plans: If a customer is having trouble paying their bill, the company will help them determine the best option for their unique situation. If you have more than one loan with SC . Households with an income at or below 50% of the median income, Individuals who have been unemployed for more than 90 days, Those whose landlords have already moved to evict them, A signed lease or other document that shows you have agreed to make rent payments, Proof of income such as 2020 tax returns or recent pay stubs, Proof of financial hardship, for example, an unemployment verification letter. Federal funds for rental and utility a renter household in which one or more individuals . Eligible households that include an Representatives are trained to give status updates, clarify program information, and provide general assistance to help the caller complete their application. With more than 35 years of experience serving housing authorities across the nation, Nan McKay and Associates (NMA) is widely known as the gold standard for . Please note that this is an external link. Has qualified for unemployment or experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs, or experienced a financial hardship directly or indirectly due to COVID-19 (since March 2020), Can demonstrate a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability, Has a household income at or below 80% of the county median income (, Girl in custody after stabbing in Sumter County, Search for suspects in after-prom park shooting continues, West Columbia Dunkin Donuts giving away free coffee for a year. Rebecca Liebson covers housing and livability for The State. Scott Morgan is the Upstate multimedia reporter for South Carolina Public Radio, based in Rock Hill. The SC Stay Plus program for rental and utility relief will open for new applications in May 2021. eligible household must meet several criteria[1] individual who has been unemployed for 90 days or more before applying for Congress passed a $25 billion rental and utility assistance package in December. Its nerve-wracking but unfortunately this is my reality, he said. People who qualify can get up to 12 months of aid for rent or utility bills that date back to March 2020 through the SC Stay Plus program. Richland, or Spartanburg counties unless there are additional funds remaining Residents in 39 counties are eligible to participate in the program. eviction notice or a notice of nonpayment. Added July 30: This checklist from the U.S. interagency Council on Homelessness about what to do if you're facing eviction. those counties are encouraged to contact their county offices to apply for This portal services the SC Stay Plus and its affiliated programs. pandemic. due to the COVID-19 outbreak. If you continue, you will exit the NMA Portal. SC Housing launched a similar program called SC Stay in February, in which $25 million in emergency renters assistance was given out. Emergency Rental Assistance Program/SC Stay Plus Emergency Rental Assistance Program funds are available to help eligible residential renters pay up to 12 months of past-due rent and utility bills . This program runs through September 30, 2026, or as long as funds remain available. [1] These criteria are derived from: 1) US Treasury Department guidance regarding requirements of the Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program as established by the Consolidated We do want to make sure we are taking care of people who need it the most -- the hardest hit folks.. To check the status of your application, or to refuse an award, visit scstay.org or call 833.985.2929. People who qualify can get up to 12 months of aid for rent or utility bills that date back to March of 2020. click here to complete the online landlord-tenant certification form meet this requirement. For a household to qualify, one or more individuals must meet all of the following criteria: The federal government has asked us to prioritize people who have been out of work for more than 90 days, and people who are less than 50% of their areas median income, Winston said. Has qualified for unemployment or experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs, or experienced a financial hardship directly or indirectly due to COVID-19 (i.e., since March 2020); Can demonstrate a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability; and. SC Stay Plus will provide up to 12 months of The $272 million SC Stay Plus program, funded by the U.S. Treasury, offers up to 12 months of assistance for past due rent and assistance for delinquent utility payments for qualifying individuals and families impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in 39 S.C. counties. types of eligible households are to be prioritized for assistance pursuant to Payoff statement requests are made by contacting a Customer Service representative at 803.896.9521 or toll free at 800.476.0412 (choose Option 3). SC Stay Plus has been created to assist South This program runs through September 30, 2026, or as long as funds remain available. Secure Access The following resources are available to help South Carolina renters who may be struggling to pay their bills. Identification forms that have expired after March 13, 2020, are still acceptable). Welcome to the South Carolina (ERAP) Portal This portal services the SC Stay Plus (South Carolina (ERAP)) and its affiliated programs.If you have an account, please login to have full access to forms, transactions, useful information and more. Dental insurance; 401(k) Easily apply: Hiring multiple candidates. It details the steps that renters must take to seek protection. He's won numerous state, regional, and national awards for his work including a national Edward R. Murrow. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. Assistance is available for households in which one or more individuals meet all the following criteria: RELATED: $12.5 million in rental assistance funds now available for Richland County residents, Applications for SC Stay Plus, a state-wide rental assistance program, are NOW OPEN! Henry McMaster and legislators passed a joint resolution in April to determine how South Carolinas funds should be distributed. Funding for the program was provided through the Consolidated Appropriations Act that Congress passed in December 2020. WBTV asked why someone would have to reach out multiple times to get their claims heard and also was it concerning that someone was facing eviction despite being an accepted applicant. Appropriations Act, 2021 (as revised March 16, 2021), and 2) South Carolina Joint Resolution R.26 requirements (as amended March 4, 2021). (803) 336-3420, (800) 476-0412 . I lost my job. More information is available at, Community Events: For customers who need in-person support, Dominion Energy representatives attend community events throughout the year. who qualifies to pay rent on a residential dwelling), The household must be obligated to pay Call 1.800.476.0412. for renters living in Anderson, Berkeley, Charleston, Greenville, Horry, You will not be able to leave and then return to complete it later. Renters in Fax: 803.551.4998. Proof of having a lease (Note: If you do not have a formal, signed lease, you can still apply for SC Stay Plus. "We saw 7,000 applicants in the first six days that the . COLUMBIA, S.C. SC Stay Plus emergency rental assistance program will stop accepting new applications at 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 16. Payment assistance: Assistance is offered through EnergyShare, which is funded with company contributions, along with donations from customers, employees and retirees. These statements are provided for information purposes only and should not be relied upon in making investment decisions with regard to any bond or other security issued by SC Housing. Boiling Springs, Gaston, Swansea, Pelion, Sharpe's Hill, Mack Edisto, Edmund, Fairview, Samaria, Batesburg-Leesville, The Ridge, Hollow Creek, Summit, Gilbert. Columbia, SC 29210. unemployed for over 90 days, and applicants who have been provided with an pandemic. cover any mortgage expenses or utility expenses for homeowners. Personal identification (Identification must be valid up to March 13, 2020. To get some answers, WBTV reached out to Renaye Long with SC Housing. must meet the following requirements: Three Our anonymous renter says both he and the property managers have reached out several times to rectify the situation. Or maybe theyve gotten an eviction notice and they know they only have a certain amount of time to hurry up and get those payments into their landlord or they risk being put out on the street. Please have your personal checking or savings account information as well as your SC Housing mortgage information handy because you will need this to complete your online payment. Remember, you are required to submit documents to complete your application. To support our commitment to public service journalism: Subscribe Now. SC Stay Plus; Housing Choice Voucher Program; Housing Choice Voucher Owner/Agent Info; . Tenants are encouraged to work together with their landlords to complete their SC Stay Plus application process. Talk to a trained housing counselor to see what you can do to keep your home. be posted to www.southcarolina.onlinepha.com shortly before the application window opens. The application period is now open for the program that may cover up to six months of rental or mortgage payments, up to $7,500, for eligible applicants. Learn more here, Copyright 2023 NMA Portal. Carolina households that are unable to pay rent and utilities due to the COVID-19 Contact Us Please contact our offices at 803.896.9521 or toll free at 800.476.0412, using the options listed below or one of the email addresses below. SC Housing is now accepting applications for SC Stay Plus, an emergency rental assistance program designed to help with back rent and late utility payments. The South Carolina Department of Administrations Office of Economic Opportunity administers the EnergyShare program through community action agencies. Resolution R.26. She also says that supervisors check certain calls to make sure the quality of work is still up to par and applicants needs are getting addressed. If the landlord does not want the money from SC Housing, the agency sends it directly to the tenants instead so they can pay for rent themselves. Providing quality service is our greatest responsibility. after obligating funds to all other eligible residents in the state. COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Applications are now open for people who need help paying back rent and utilities during the pandemic. A viewer reached out to WBTV about South Carolina promising financial assistance and then, not giving it to him. Millions in rent and utility assistance now available in SC. SC Stay Plus is a $272 million federally funded program to assist South Carolina residents in need of rental and utility assistance because their finances have been impacted by the COVID-19. In April, South Carolina lawmakers passed a joint resolution outlining how the funds should be distributed. Eligibility The new SC Stay program from SC Housing provides assistance to households unable to pay rent or mortgage payments due to the COVID-19 pandemic. by dialing 211 or visiting sc211.org online. SC Stay Plus has provided approximately 90,000 South Carolinians with more than $267 million in rent and utility assistance across the 39 counties the program serves. costs. These arrearages must have occurred during or after March 13, 2020. Just do to my unfortunate circumstance of me losing my job and then having to wait for SC Stay this is the situation Im in.. If you continue, you will exit the NMA Portal. You may be eligible for individual assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for expenses such as temporary housing and home repair. She answered saying all situations are so individualized it is hard to say exactly what could have gone wrong. Its unfortunate. It provides payments directly to landlords and utility companies on housing instability. SC Stay Plus program staff works diligent to keep both landlords (and tenants) informed about the status of their application as they go through the review process. Even as our state continues its recovery efforts, the economic hardships of the pandemic have placed many families in jeopardy of losing their homes, said Bonita Shropshire, executive director of SC Housing. Ive always been the type of person to pay my bills, he said. Scott joined South Carolina Public Radio in March of 2019. Representatives are trained to give status updates, clarify program information, and provide general assistance to help the caller complete their application. Long answered those questions by pointing back to the many resources they have to help people who are having trouble. This portal services the SC Stay Plus and its affiliated programs. Plus change, this information and page will be updated. who qualifies to pay rent on a residential dwelling) All rights reserved. Those who qualify can receive help on their bills dating back to March 13, 2020. If the eligibility requirements for SC Stay shortly before the application window opens. Eligible households who are at risk of We still encourage them to apply and give them an opportunity to explain why they may be missing something.. The supports Long mentioned include in-person meetings in your countys SC Housing center and case management teams that deal with applicants one-on-one. In certain cases, Please call 803.702.5222 or click here for more information. To be eligible for SC Stay Plus, a household (defined as Background. CHECK THE EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE STATUS If you have submitted your application, you will be able to check your review status here. COLUMBIA, S.C. Applications are now available for people who need help paying back rent and utilities in South Carolina because of the pandemic. Inability to work due to infection with COVID-19 and required quarantine or a quarantine of a family member, etc. If you do not have an account, please create one using the requested information. At this point I feel like Ive been scammed, the person said, who has asked to remain anonymous because of the situation. Email: voucher@schousing.com. SC Stay Plus is pausing operations and is no longer accepting new applications. Must have landlord or lender confirmation of their past-due status and be willing to accept payment on their behalf. This program differs from SC Stay, an earlier mortgage This person packs away what is left of his almost empty apartment. Click here to learn more: https://t.co/AMkYRQvxhY #SCStayplus #COVIDAssistance #RentRelief #EvictionMoratorium #RentalAssistance #SCHousing pic.twitter.com/BUhjfxjQ2B, RELATED: Lexington County to offer rent, mortgage, utility assistance due to COVID-19. Those who qualify can find more information and sign up to be notified when the program launches on SC Housings website. The SC Stay Plus program is a rental and utility assistance program, funded by the U.S. Department of Treasury, that launched in May 2021 to assist those who are experiencing financial hardships and housing challenges as a result of the COVID-19 global health emergency that has disrupted the lives of so many. His utilities got paid by the program, but his rent did not. welcome to the south carolina (erap) portal. I want to connect this person with the staff so they can talk with him or her specifically about their situation.. SC Stay Plus, South Carolina's Rent and Utility Assistance program, is pausing operations. All Rights Reserved. No representation is made or implied by SC Housing that these Statements accurately reflect the financial condition on any date other than the date dated, and SC Housing can give no assurance that material changes in its financial condition have not occurred since such date. to ensure housing stability of those at risk of experiencing homelessness or This portal services the SC Stay Plus (South Carolina (ERAP)) and its affiliated programs.If you have an account, please login to have full access to forms, transactions, useful information and more. If you are not an authorized individual or an employee or agent of SC Housing, you are hereby notified that any access or attempt to access this site is strictly prohibited and violations of applicable federal and/or state law may subject you to civil and/or criminal penalties. The program provided short-term rental and utility relief to . Winston said they expect a large pool of applicants. There were not a lot of answers to our questions about this situation as a whole. under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, and South Carolina Joint click here to learn more. below 80% of the Area Median Income as defined by the Federal Government, AND. Has a household income at or below 80% of county median income. There is a foreclosure moratorium currently in place for federally backed mortgages. Contact: (803) 587-3144 Tips call the hotline at: (803) 587-3144, email: thelexingtonledger@gmail.com Content protected by US copyright laws, Advertising / marketing call Paul (803) 587-3144, 2023 by "This Just In". Proof of housing instability. Priority will be given to lower income The call center is also accessible with hours until 9 p.m. so that people can have a better chance to catch up with someone even after work. back rent (arrearages) brought on by COVID-19 related financial instability. Provided By Nan McKay & Associates. Due to the Program's success, SC Stay Plus will begin to wind down in South Carolina, as it is doing in many other states, and must stop accepting new applications at 11:59 p.m. on Dec.16, 2022. The expression of interest wait list will remain open. Applicants can also check the status of their application online. Applications will be left at their most recent review status as of March 15, 2023. After a year of economic hardship, the SC Stay Plus program aims to help keep evictions at bay, and help renters and landlords get back on their feet across the state. For more coverage, sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter. The following seven counties received other funding andwill provide their own rental assistance programs: Anderson, Berkeley, Charleston, Greenville, Horry, Richland and Spartanburg click here for information about these programs.