Help for struggling Arizona renters is out there. Here's where to find it
Catherine ReagorMetro Phoenix evictions hit a record in January, and the number of people experiencing homelessness in Maricopa County has never been higher.
Rents have ticked down a bit, but many tenants are still struggling with the 30% they jumped in 2021-22.
Sharron Sauls, Kyrene Justice of the Peace, said a family could quickly face financial hardship, like losing a job because they were late to work due to a broken traffic signal. Then they can't pay rent, their landlord can lose the home to foreclosure, and an eviction can quickly follow.
The eviction moratoriums due to COVID-19 are long over, and most of the federal rental aid from the pandemic has been spent.
But there is help available, and housing advocates encourage renters who can't pay their landlords to apply for aid or legal help as soon as possible because Arizona's eviction process is fast.
Where can Arizona tenants find help paying rent?
Renters facing an eviction can get information from the justice courts, where eviction cases are handled.
A new Arizona program can help tenants with children under 16 and seniors with as much as $10,500 or three months' rent. The Arizona Rental Assistance Program, administered by the Department of Economic Security, can help tenants pay past-due and future rent, as well as late fees and payments.
Currently, the processing time for a tenant is three days, according to the Department of Economic Security. Eligible renters don't have to be in the eviction process and don't need their landlords to apply, which differs from most previous rental aid programs.
Also, the nonprofit Community Legal Services offers free legal help for tenants facing eviction through funding from Phoenix and Maricopa County.
The website azevictionhelp.org, started by the Arizona Bar Foundation, explains the eviction process and lists statewide resources for tenants.
Arizona's assistance hotline 211 also can help renters and homeowners find financial help.
The Arizona Department of Housing has a list of rental assistance resources by county.
The Arizona Housing Coalition also has a collection of resources for people facing housing insecurity.
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Reach the reporter at catherine.reagor@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8040. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @CatherineReagor.