Up to $1,500 per tenant possible in Cuyahoga County rental assistance

The Cuyahoga County Department of Child and Family Services provides rental assistance and other emergency cash aid for local residents who need help avoiding financial catastrophe. A maximum of $1500 per year is available to lower-income families that need immediate help.

PRC Program

The Prevention, Retention & Contingency (PRC) program distributes thousands of dollars in emergency aid to lower income households that have experienced a recent financial crisis that is causing substantial hardship. While the amount assistance may vary by household based on certain factors, an applicant could receive up to $1500 annually in cash assistance for emergency purposes. This is an awesome opportunity to get caught up on rent, avoid becoming evicted or to get other expenses covered that are causing substantial financial distress.

As long as your household meets income qualifications, you could receive emergency rental assistance funds in a situation where your landlord is seeking to have you evicted from the property. You will be required to provide proof that you are in immediate jeopardy of becoming homeless. A notice of eviction is often enough to prove that you need help.

Sometimes cash assistance is submitted to your landlord in order to prevent the eviction. In other cases, you may find that relocating to a more affordable rental property is more feasible. The PRC program can also assist with security deposits if it will allow you to make the move to a cheaper rental property. Cash may be provided for the security deposit for your new rental property.

If you have also received a disconnection notice from your utility provider, that bill may also become eligible for some assistance. In this case, your utility company would receive payment from PRC which would be applied to your bill. The purpose is to keep your utilities connected so that you do not incur additional fees to have them reconnected.

If you feel that you may qualify as a lower income household, then contact Cuyahoga County Job and Family Services at 216-987-7000. Be sure to also ask about other types of assistance besides rent, including car repair costs, work clothing and other types of assistance, including those necessitated by a move resulting from domestic violence.

The PRC program does not provide loans for back rent. Instead, eligible applicants could receive rental assistance grants that will not have to be repaid to the agency. This helps you avoid the burden of having to repay money when you are already struggling to meet your normal monthly expenses.