Pandemic emergency rental assistance is now gone in Ada County. Tenant evictions surge
The federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program ran out of funding for Ada County last month. One result: Evictions quickly surged.
Jesse Tree, a Boise nonprofit that provides rental assistance and eviction mediation, said there are 50 eviction court hearings scheduled in Ada County courts this week alone, compared with about 20 per week in recent months.
Executive Director Ali Rabe said the end of the emergency rental assistance is to blame.
The program was created in 2020 to provide rental assistance to tenants experiencing financial hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, the program reported helping nearly 14,000 Treasure Valley households as of April, the Idaho Statesman reported.
It helped tenants who found themselves behind on rent or utilities. Through the program, qualifying households were eligible for up to 15 months of assistance in three-month chunks paid directly to a renter’s landlord or a utility provider. The money could be applied to back rent or future payments to try to help a tenant get ahead, the Statesman reported.
In May, leaders of the agency in charge of dispersing the federal rental aid in Ada County, the Boise City/Ada County Housing Authorities, told the Statesman they worried about the program ending.
“So many people still need help, and it’s heartbreaking,” said Jillian Patterson, deputy director of the authorities, which are two agencies — one city, one county — that operate as one by agreement.
In Ada County, Jesse Tree says it is now the only organization offering emergency rental assistance. Tenants may call 208-383-9486, apply online at jessetreeidaho.org/apply, or visit the office at 1121 W. Miller St. in Boise.
Residents living in counties other than Ada County can apply for emergency rental assistance though the Idaho Housing and Finance Association at idahohousing.com/hpp.
This story was originally published August 1, 2023 at 4:02 PM.
