With the federal eviction moratorium set to end July 30, Gov. Steve Sisolak on Wednesday urged renters who are behind in monthly payments and their landlords to go to the Home Means Nevada website and file an application for rental assistance.
The program was enacted in AB486 to “create a glide path to help renters pay their landlords and avoid losing their home.”
He said the state has some $360 million in federal funding to make those payments but that tenants must start the process at the Home Means Nevada website and then landlords must fill out their share of the paperwork to get the money, which goes directly to the landlords.
“Filling out the application is the best thing you can do right now,” said Sisolak.
The website address is http://www.homemnv.org/renter-connect/
Shannon Chambers, president of Home Means Nevada, which was created by the state Department of Business and Industry, said once that application is completed, the landlord cannot refuse to participate in the process and the judge will halt an eviction while the case is adjudicated.
The website includes links to the forms that need to be filled out. The landlord’s form isn’t posted yet but Chambers said it will be Sunday, Aug. 1.
She said both the tenant and landlord must participate in mediation and/or assistance programs.
Once the tenant files an application and the landlord completes his or her form, qualified applications will be sent to the county or local housing authorities.
“Home Means Nevada knows landlords are looking for ward to that form and to that program,” she said.
Chambers said the rent assistance program and mediation program are designed to replace rent that hasn’t been paid. She said they are ready to process applications as quickly as possible to get landlords paid and prevent evictions.
Asked about the impact of spiking COVID-19 cases in the Silver State, Sisolak said the answer is simple: “The focus right now is on getting people to get the vaccine.”
He said the new restrictions could be gone in a few weeks if more people get the shot.
“Increase vaccinations and we can put an end to this pandemic once and for all,” he said.
