I’m in need of help paying back rent in Maryland

(Request from Pamela in Maryland) I’m in need help paying back rent I’m very nervous please help.

Dear Pamela,

I assume that you are at least one month behind and maybe more paying your rent. This definitely puts you at risk of an eviction.

I do not know if your landlord has communicated that they will pursue an eviction against you. You would receive an official summons for court in the event that your landlord pursues an eviction proceeding.

Since I do not know which city that you reside in I will have to direct you to your local social services office. State funds as well as federal funds from the Department of Housing and Urban Development are distributed to tenants in need at the direction of local case managers. An application must be completed and there are eligibility requirements based on income and family size.

These emergency rental assistance funds can be used to catch up on back rent which is generally enough to cause your landlord to vacate the eviction process. Your landlord may require that the rent be fully caught up before vacating the eviction but you can often negotiate a payment plan arrangement with your landlord for the remainder of the arrears.

Baltimore Neighborhoods

One statewide agency they can offer information about local and regional programs that help pay back rent in Maryland is Baltimore Neighborhoods Inc. this agency can provide you with information about your rights and responsibilities in the case that you are either evicted or that your landlord intends to pursue an eviction against you. You may even benefit from a referral to a local organization near you. Call Baltimore Neighborhoods at 800-487-6007.

Legal Aid Bureau

The Legal Aid Bureau may also be able to provide help with your defense against an eviction. Call 410-539-5340.

You may also search for Maryland rental assistance programs to see which ones can help with your back rent. Even if the program does not specifically mention back rent payments as one of its benefits it is still useful to call each local organization since they often will provide a referral to another local organization that may be able to provide that exact form of assistance.

Keep an open mind as you are looking through the different programs that serve you. You’ll notice that some programs that provide help paying back rent in Maryland may be sponsored by a religious organization. Even if you are not a member of that church you may still be eligible for assistance if you meet the guidelines. They all share the same goal of helping you remain in affordable housing and out of the homeless shelters.

Some local programs like GCCAC provide emergency rental assistance and temporary housing. Other programs like Allegany County’s HRDC focus more on transitional housing and permanently affordable housing rather than throwing good money at an unaffordable rental situation. Each organization you will notice has specific guidelines on how it provides rental assistance. By meeting with your local case manager at social services or at one of the local agency serving you, you can find out what programs are available and work with your caseworker to determine your best options.

If you get desperate and are tempted to borrow money to pay rent, understand that this step should only be taken in situations of temporary hardship where you normally earn enough to comfortably pay your rent. If you choose this option choose wisely since some lenders charge substantially more than your local credit union or zero interest loan program.