Emergency Housing Assistance Program
In accordance with Governor Bullock’s April 13, 2020 Directive, Montana Housing will provide rent and security deposit assistance to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or TANF eligible Montanans who have suffered substantial financial hardship as a result of the novel Coronavirus or COVID-19.
This program uses TANF funds allocated to Montana Housing for emergency housing assistance, including rent and security deposit assistance, to support TANF eligible households to stay in their homes or obtain housing.
The program may be expanded to utilize other funding identified or received by the state, including but not limited to federal relief funds to provide rent assistance for other Montanans who are not eligible for TANF. The program guidelines and eligibility will be updated as needed to reflect these changes.
About the Program
- Montana Housing will provide emergency rent and security deposit assistance as-needed for TANF eligible Montanans, subject to available funding.
- Program recipients are eligible to receive one month of emergency rent assistance, with subsequent month(s) of rent assistance contingent on completion of a monthly Housing Assistance Self-Certification form attesting to the need for on-going financial support, and subject to available funding.
- Unpaid security deposits corresponding with initial lease agreements effective April 1, 2020 or later are eligible.
- Rent arrears or security deposits due prior to April 1, 2020 are not eligible.
Eligibility
TANF eligible households with children who have suffered a substantial loss of income from COVID-19, including:
- required to be quarantined based on their diagnosis of COVID-19.
- required to self-quarantine based on a Directive of the Governor, the advice of a healthcare provider, or the advice or directive of a local or state public health authority, the directive of a law enforcement officer, or where the tenant has reason to believe that self-quarantine is in the best interest of public health and human safety due to an exposure or high-risk activity.
- over 65 or has any health condition that places him/her at enhanced risk for COVID-19.
- suffered a substantial loss of income from COVID-19, including:
- Job loss;
- Reduction in compensation;
- Closure of place of employment;
- Obligation to be absent from work to care for home-bound school-aged child; or
- Other pertinent circumstances.
The following household compositions are TANF eligible:
- Families with minor children
- The minor children's blood-related/adoptive siblings with whom the children are living
- Pregnant women in their last trimester who have no other eligible children
- Refugees with minor dependent children
Monthly earned income must at or below the levels shown in the table below.
Readily available assets (checking, savings, etc.) may not exceed $3,000.
How to Apply
Tenant Application Forms:
Tenant Documentation Requirements for Complete Application Packet:
- Emergency Housing Assistance Application with Release of Information
- Current executed lease agreement
Income: Tenant must submit at least one preferred or other acceptable income documentation from the list below:
Preferred income documentation:
- Letter or email from employer documenting job loss, layoff or closure of place of employment
- Recent paystub(s) documenting decrease in wage earnings
- Self-Employment Certification form
- Zero Income Certification form
- Letter from childcare provider documenting closure
Other acceptable income documentation (only if preferred unavailable or not applicable)
- Self-certification of absence from work to care for home-board school-aged child(ren)
- Self-certification of other pertinent circumstances (i.e. required to quarantine or self-quarantine)
Landlord Forms:
Application Process
- To request emergency rent or security deposit assistance, Montana Housing must receive completed Emergency Housing Assistance Application and Release of Information forms from the tenant. Tenants can call 406.841.2840 (TDD 406.841.2702 or Toll Free 800.761.6264) to request these forms by mail, or email COVID19HousingAssist@mt.gov. These forms are also available on our website at HOUSING.MT.GOV/RENTAL-HOUSING/COVIDHOUSINGASSIST.
- Tenant submits completed Emergency Housing Assistance Application and Release of Information forms and attached documentation via email to COVID19HousingAssist@mt.gov or mailed to Montana Housing | P.O. Box 200528 | Helena, MT 59620-0550.
- Upon receipt of the tenant’s application forms, Montana Housing will mail or email the Landlord Verification and Certification, W-9 and Electronic Fund Transfer Sign Up forms to landlord/property owner listed on the Release of Information.
- Landlord or property owners completes the Landlord Verification and Certification and W-9 forms. The Electronic Fund Transfer Sign Up form can be completed and submitted if desired. Montana Housing will provide the landlord or property owner with instruction for secure electronic submission, or forms can be mailed to Montana Housing | P.O. Box 200528 | Helena, MT, 59620-0550.
- An application is considered complete after all required forms and attachments from both the tenant and landlord/property owner have been received by Montana Housing.
- Montana Housing will strive to review all complete applications within five (5) business days.
- Tenants and their landlord/property owner will be notified in writing as to the status of their application:
- Application Approved
- Application Denied – reason(s) for denial / ineligibility will be provided
- Application Incomplete – additional information is needed within (10) business days
- Subsequent month(s) of rent assistance will be contingent on completion of a monthly Housing Assistance Self-Certification form attesting to the need for on-going financial support, and subject to available funding. Montana Housing will include a copy of this form with the Application Approval letter. Recipients must complete and submit the Housing Assistance Self-Certification form by the 15th day of the month to be considered for rent assistance the following month.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the assistance maximum?
Eligible applicants may receive one month of emergency rent assistance, with subsequent month(s) of rent assistance contingent on completion of a monthly Housing Assistance Self-Certification form attesting to the need for on-going assistance, and subject to available funding.
Will I be paid directly? How quickly will I be paid?
Montana Housing will issue rent or security deposit assistance payments directly to the landlord or property owner.
Once Montana Housing has received a complete application (including all required forms and attachments from both the tenant and landlord/property owner) we will strive to review within five (5) business days.
Once an application is approved, payment via Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) will take approximately 5 business days. Payment via check will take approximately 10–14 business days. We encourage landlords/property owners to sign up for EFT.
Are stimulus checks under the CARES Act counted as household income or toward the $3,000 readily available asset limit?
Household stimulus payments are not included in calculations of income or toward the asset limit.
Is unemployment insurance counted as household income?
Regular payments of unemployment insurance issued by the state of Montana are treated as income. However, the temporary $600 per week federal enhancement to unemployment insurance provided by the CARES Act will not be included in calculations of income.
Additional Resources