I lost my job and need rent help in Louisville

(Request from Shanell in Louisville, Kentucky) I lost my job at the end of March I am fighting with unemployment. I cannot pay my rent. I have been looking for jobs and have tried the local agencies for help but no funding. If you can give me information on some assistance it would be helpful.

Dear Shanell,

Losing your job in March certainly qualifies as a hardship. While your lease may potentially allow you up until the fifth of the month as a grace period, you are still expected to make on-time payments which are normally due the first of the month.

It may be possible for you to obtain emergency rental assistance but there is a small issue that you should be aware of. Most emergency rental assistance programs pay rent when it is necessary to avoid an eviction. I know this may sound ridiculous at first, but they want you to exhaust all other means of assistance (savings, family help, selling assets, etc.) before they can hand over cash. Most programs will require that you have already received an eviction notice before they can intervene. Of course, by that time you have very little opportunity to react before the sheriff shows up to evict you.

There are some resources in your community that you may want to look into. Even if you have not received an eviction notice yet, it is good to start talking with a case manager so that you can get help finding a job, since that is the real issue here.

St. Matthews Area Ministries

The Emergency Assistance program at St. Matthews Area Ministries works to combine rental help with utility assistance and food so that your multiple needs can be met. They do this as long as you are taking advantage of the employment assistance that is offered by the charity. Cash assistance could total enough to cover your costs for at least 30 days.

Benefits are only available to residents currently living within the 40207 ZIP code in Louisville. Call St. Matthews Area Ministries at 502-893-5704 to find out more information about the Emergency Assistance program and how it could cover your rent payments and other obligations.

Neighborhood Place

Neighborhood Place is a City of Louisville initiative that provides comprehensive case management and emergency financial assistance to lower income households. The primary program operated by the city department is Family Economic Success.

Family Economic Success is a comprehensive program that helps you with all of your basic needs (rent, utilities, food, etc.) so that your family can bounce back from hardship, avoid eviction or homelessness and become self-sufficient. To take part of this program, you simply meet with a case manager at Neighborhood Place.

This is not your typical cash handout social services program. While financial assistance to distressed tenants is possible, you must show that you are serious about taking the initiative to obtain stable employment and building savings so that you can make it if you experience an interruption in income in the future. For more information, call or visit your closest Neighborhood Place and ask for the Family Economic Success program. Here are the local Neighborhood Place offices:

  • 810 Barret Ave. Call Neighborhood Place at 502-574-6638.
  • 1411 Agonquin Pkwy. Call Bridges of Hope Neighborhood Place at 502-634-6050.
  • 3410 Lees Ln. Call Cane Run Neighborhood Place at 502-485-6810.
  • 1503 Rangeland Rd. Call First Neighborhood Place at 502-962-3160.
  • 4018 West Market St. Call Northwest Neighborhood Place at 502-485-7230.
  • 4255 Hazelwood Ave. Call South Central Neighborhood Place at 502-485-7130.
  • 1000 Neighborhood Place in Fairdale. Call South Jefferson Neighborhood Place at 502-363-1424.
  • 3610 Bohne Ave. Call Ujima Neighborhood Place at 502-485-6710.

Most offices provide emergency rental assistance. In addition to providing emergency assistance, you can be screened for project-based rental assistance or subsidized rent through the Housing Choice Voucher Program.

These two community partners can be a great place to begin. Not only do they provide rent help in Louisville, they also help you take care of the source of the problem, which is sustainable employment. You can get the help you need so that you do not have to fear eviction or homelessness. Most importantly, you can avoid costly rental loans or other financial traps that can make it hard to recover from.