Bert Nash receives $110,000 rental assistance grant to help area tenants

The Bert Nash Center has received $110,000 in grant funding from the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation. The purpose of the grant is to provide lower income tenants of Douglas County and the city of Lawrence with much-needed rental assistance funds.

The Bert Nash Center provides emergency services and supportive housing to lower income doubles County residents who had difficulty affording their rent payments. In operating homeless outreach program, the organization is able to match financially distressed tenants with outreach workers that are trained to identify potential issues and match the applicants with available housing opportunities.

Sometimes outreach workers must react quickly to an emergency situation. This may include an allocation of funding or matching the tenant with an emergency housing program so that they can avoid becoming homeless. This is frequently needed when a tenant has received an eviction notice and has no other place to go.

Bert Nash also provides ongoing rental assistance through its supportive housing program. The supportive housing program provides reduced rent apartments in Lawrence and Baldwin City which are more affordable than market rents charged by other landlords. A sliding scale normally applies, meaning that you would typically only pay a maximum of 30% of your monthly income in rent.

The Bert Nash Center also provides rent subsidies to tenants who may have experienced mental illness in find it difficult to secure employment and safe housing. Rent vouchers are provided to participating landlords who agree to be reimbursed for a portion of the monthly rent through the agency.

If you have experienced difficulties in paying your rent and need help on an emergency or long-term basis, then the Bert Nash Center may be able to help. Financial assistance is provided to cover rent payments. Furthermore, security deposit assistance and help with utilities may be possible.

If you live in Lawrence or other areas of Douglas County and think that you may qualify for benefits, you may contact Bert Nash Center at 785-843-9192.This hotline is open 24 hours a day, allowing you to find out from an outreach worker whether or not you are eligible to receive help as a result of this $110,000 Tenant Based Rental Assistance grant from the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation.