Capitol Hill and Central District property owners with renters struggling to pay during the ongoing economic fallout of the COVID-19 crisis could be eligible to receive financial assistance as the first phase of King County’s Eviction Prevention and Rental Assistance Program begins. The first phase is starting with landlords with five or more units with tenants in need of assistance:

Outreach to landlords, property managers, and property owners is underway now, and enrollment of properties will happen over the next three weeks. Information for property signup is available on the EPRAP Landlord page.

Individuals and families living in properties signed up and approved for the program will be covered for rental assistance and will not have to apply independently in May.

By mid-May, the second phase including property owners with five or fewer units kicks in.

The new 2021 program is significantly larger that last year’s launch, with over $125 million available:

EPRAP will help King County residents in danger of eviction by paying past, current, and future rent. Payments go directly to landlords or property owners. The goal is to deploy multiple ways to get rent assistance efficiently to those at the highest risk of eviction. The phased enrollment should significantly reduce duplication of registrations and facilitate smoother and faster payments for all.

The 2020 eviction prevention program provided rent assistance to 9,073 households countywide and expended over $37 million, the county says.

The 2021 program has also added help with “community-based rental assistance Hubs and Spokes.”

“King County will fund several local community service agencies to provide direct rental assistance to clients in need,” the announcement reads. “Some clients will be people already served through other programs based on these community organizations. Many of the agencies specialize in services to a specific ethnic or cultural community, so they can quickly identify and serve individuals and families within their community who need the most help.”

The program has also reportedly been improved with a new data system to enhance the flow of enrollments and payments.

Learn more at kingcounty.gov.