State Accepting Applications For Emergency Solutions Grant CARES Act (ESG-CV) Rental Assistance Program

(INDIANAPOLIS ) – The state’s Rental Assistance Portal is now accepting applications for the Emergency Solutions Grant CARES Act (ESG-CV) rental assistance program. This program can provide eligible renters with up to 6 months in rental assistance to help cover past due and ongoing monthly rent payments. More information, including the steps for tenants to apply both online and over the phone, can be found on the top banner of the indianahousingnow.org website.

“The application portal is designed to help renters adversely affected by COVID-19 connect with programs that can help them cover monthly rent payments or past due rent,” said Indiana Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, who serves as board chair of IHCDA. “We are pleased to work with our network of program partners to continue assisting Indiana renters.”

IHCDA prioritized rental assistance as a need and is using $15 million in Emergency Solutions Grant CARES Act (ESG-CV) funding awarded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to further support Hoosiers who are at a high risk of facing homelessness. The goal is to keep individuals in stable housing so they may move through this pandemic without further future damage.

“Our number one goal is to ensure equal access to the rental assistance funding and resources that become available,” said Jacob Sipe, Executive Director of IHCDA. “We are thankful for a wide variety of landlords, local, community, and not-for-profit organizations who are helping us direct renters in need of support to the Rental Assistance Portal.”

Individuals may be eligible for the program if they*:

  • Are a renter in Indiana who lives outside of Marion County;
  • Have lost part of their income due to the COVID-19 pandemic;
  • Are having trouble paying their rent;
  • Are on the verge of having their lease terminated due to an inability to pay their rent;
  • Are currently not receiving rental assistance from another source;
  • Live in a household with incomes at or below 50% of the area median income (AMI)**; and
  • Have a current lease and a landlord willing to accept rental assistance on their behalf.

*Individuals that meet each of the eligibility requirements listed above are encouraged to apply for the program. However, this is not intended to be a complete list of eligibility requirements.
**The income limits for each county for households of 1-8 people can be found by clicking here.

There is no minimum or maximum amount of rental assistance an eligible household can receive through the ESG-CV program. The amount of assistance will depend on the applicant’s income and financial situation.

Individuals who previously applied for assistance through the Rental Assistance Portal, whether they were approved for assistance or not, should visit indianahousingnow.org to see if they qualify for this program. They should call toll-free 1-844-463-7368 or email esg@ihcda.in.gov to ask a representative if they need to submit a new application.

There is no application due date at this time. The Rental Assistance Portal will remain open until all available funding has been obligated to eligible households. 

Individuals seeking rental assistance living in Marion County should visit indyrent.org

Hoosiers who are homeless, in a housing crisis or in need of immediate assistance should call 2-1-1 and ask to connect with a navigator.

Homeowners in need of assistance paying their mortgage payment should visit 877gethope.org.