Maricopa County Extends Rental Assistance Program

PHOENIX, AZ — Maricopa County residents having financial problems may be eligible to receive rental and utility assistance.

The Maricopa County Human Services Department announced Monday that it will extend its emergency rental assistance program to those hit hardest by the pandemic.

The program is open to a limited number of people and provides up to 15 months of financial assistance in the form of rental payments or help with electricity, gas, water, sewer and trash fees.

The county's emergency rental assistance program is aimed at residents most in need financially, including those living at or below 50 percent of the area's median income and households with members who have been unemployed for 90 days at the time of application and living at or below 80 percent of median income, the county said.

The program also covers utility and rent payments for past due, owed and future rent and utility payments.

Eligibility is restricted to those who live in Maricopa County but do not reside in Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa or Phoenix.

In addition, recipients must have at least one household member who qualifies for Arizona unemployment insurance or is experiencing financial hardship because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Other qualifying recipients include residents with demonstrable risk of experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity, the county said.

For more information on applying to the county's assistance program, visit the program's website.