BISMARCK – Low- and moderate-income renters in North Dakota who are struggling to pay rent can now get help applying from the ND Rent Help program. The program offers up to a year of help with past due, current and future rent to prevent evictions and promote stable housing and can also connect renters to other helpful resources.

The North Dakota Department of Human Services has trained and is now working with a network of 46 contracted application counselors across the state. The counselors will do local outreach, raising awareness about the ND Rent Help program and helping connect low- and moderate-income renters more quickly to rent assistance and other financial help.

The ND Rent Help program already has aided 1,684 qualifying renters from 38 of North Dakota’s 53 counties between Jan. 1 and July 19, 2021, providing $4.4 million in payments to participating housing providers.

Renters can begin the application process online at https://portalapps.nd.gov/dhsps/emergency-rent or can apply with the help of an approved application counselor. Contact information for approved application counselors is online at www.nd.gov/dhs/info/covid-19/rent-help.html.

ND Rent Help rent assistance program can assist households with incomes up to 80% of area median income, which equals an annual income of up to $80,000 for a family of four depending on the county in which they live. To participate, at least one member of the household must have qualified for unemployment or have experienced a reduction in income during the pandemic and be behind in rent or at risk of homelessness or housing instability.

A companion program to help qualifying North Dakota homeowners with housing-related costs is expected to be available this fall.