Research led him to SC Housings rental assistance program called SC Stay Plus. Long COVID and heart issues: What do we know about lingering symptoms and treatment? If you need additional assistance, SC Stay's toll-free hotline can be reached by calling 833.985.2929 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. She also says that supervisors check certain calls to make sure the quality of work is still up to par and applicants needs are getting addressed. must meet one of the following: Experienced a reduction in household The application period is now open for the program that may cover up to six months of rental or mortgage payments, up to $7,500, for eligible applicants. The $272 million SC Stay Plus program, funded by the U.S. Treasury, offers up to 12 months of assistance for past due rent and assistance for delinquent utility payments for qualifying individuals and families impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in 39 S.C. counties. You may be eligible for individual assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for expenses such as temporary housing and home repair. She answered saying all situations are so individualized it is hard to say exactly what could have gone wrong. Spanish-language support is available at the call center and designated in-person applicant support centers in the community. (803) 336-3420, (800) 476-0412 . WBTV also asked her when payments are supposed to go out. SC Housing attempts to send the landlords or property management company the money first so that everything can be handled. If you continue, you will exit the NMA Portal. The process will be extended if the required documentation is not uploaded when requested. CLICK HERE for more information. With more than 35 years of experience serving housing authorities across the nation, Nan McKay and Associates (NMA) is widely known as the gold standard for . They can also qualify for up to three months of future rent assistance. Review of all open applications will be paused. We are proud that we have been able to serve our State for four decades, and we are committed to our mission: To report fraud, waste, abuse, mismanagement, or misconduct within or involving a state agency, call the State Inspector General at. Once the SC Stay Plus application launches, renters will be asked to provide the following materials: People shouldnt be discouraged from applying if they dont have all documents at their fingertips, said Chris Winston, a spokesman for SC Housing. If you continue, you will exit the NMA Portal. I asked how the situation could have reached this point. Dominion Energy encourages customers to reach out to its customer assistance team online for help with applying for utility bill assistance. The S.C. State Housing Finance and Development Authority (SC Housing) has been tasked by the State of South Carolina as the lead agency in providing safe, decent and affordable housing for all citizens of South Carolina. You will not be able to leave and then return to complete it later. Find more information and applications at SCHousing.com. Contact Us Please contact our offices at 803.896.9521 or toll free at 800.476.0412, using the options listed below or one of the email addresses below. welcome to the south carolina (erap) portal. It is our hope that SC Stay Plus will help them to get back on track,. This free service helps connect customers to local community agencies supplying aid for a wide range of needs, including help with energy bills. One or more members of the household assistance in the amount of $272 million have been made available to SC Housing Ive always been the type of person to pay my bills, he said. The number of COVID-19 cases reported in the Palmetto State since the start of the pandemic is nearing 2 million. Copyright 2022 WBTV. SC Stay Plus, South Carolina's Rent and Utility Assistance program, is pausing operations. Added July 30: This checklist from the U.S. interagency Council on Homelessness about what to do if you're facing eviction. Applicants can also check the status of their application online. eviction. His work has appeared in numerous national and regional publications as well as on NPR and MSNBC. He is facing eviction. behalf of affected renters. Through ERA2, a similar federal program enacted in March 2021, the County received another $9.9 million to continue . More information is available at, Community Events: For customers who need in-person support, Dominion Energy representatives attend community events throughout the year. You can also contact them directly at 888.346.5592. Anderson, Berkeley, Charleston, Greenville, Horry, Richland and Spartanburg counties received federal approval to set up their own rent assistance programs. [1] These criteria are derived from: 1) US Treasury Department guidance regarding requirements of the Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program as established by the Consolidated Winston said SC Housing hopes to distribute all the funds to these households by September. Residents in 39 counties are eligible. Scott joined South Carolina Public Radio in March of 2019. Thankfully I was able to hold up my rent for a few months, he said. In addition to the many assistance programs and payment plans we offer, we are proud to join forces with SC Housing to promote SC Stay Plus, a critical program providing support to renters who have been directly impacted by the pandemic.. rental assistance. SC Stay Plus has provided approximately 90,000 South Carolinians with more than $267 million in rent and utility assistance across the 39 counties the program serves. ET Monday - Friday. All Rights Reserved. The reason for this validation step is to prevent automated spam submissions. With more than 35 years of experience serving housing authorities across the nation, Nan McKay and Associates (NMA) is widely known as the gold standard for performance excellence in the public housing and affordable housing industry. and rental assistance program, and is administered by the South Carolina State Housing Its important for them. SC Stay Plus Program Assistance available for qualified residential renters in South Carolina If you are a renter in South Carolina and are in need of help with your energy bill, financial assistance may be available through the SC Stay Plus rental utility assistance program. This portal services the SC Stay Plus (South Carolina (ERAP)) and its affiliated programs.If you have an account, please login to have full access to forms, transactions, useful information and more. While the program has a strong outreach component to both parties, applicants should also keep their landlord informed throughout the process. Our State Relay Service TTY is available at 803.896.8831. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. SC Stay Plus program staff works diligent to keep both landlords (and tenants) informed about the status of their application as they go through the review process. SC Stay Plus is a $272 million federally funded program to assist South Carolina residents in need of rental and utility assistance because their finances have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Inability to work due to infection with COVID-19 and required quarantine or a quarantine of a family member, etc. SC Stay Plus will not cover rent or utilities Proudly created with. There are also tips people can use to help their situation: Helping people stay in the homes they have is very very important. COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Applications are now open for people who need help paying back rent and utilities during the pandemic. The call center is also accessible with hours until 9 p.m. so that people can have a better chance to catch up with someone even after work. Now, he is left scrambling to figure out what to do as he faces eviction. If you do not have an account, please create one using the requested information. These funds are made available to South Carolinians Tenants with questions about their application can always call the call center at 803-336-3420, M-F, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. for assistance. For more details and specific step-by-step application You can fill one out through their online portal or by calling 803-336-3420. Homeowners: The SC Homeowner Rescue Program is accepting applications for mortgage, property tax and utility assistance. To avoid being reported to the Credit Bureau, the online payment must be done by 8:00 PM on the last. If you continue, you will exit the NMA Portal. We do want to make sure we are taking care of people who need it the most -- the hardest hit folks.. Online Account Questions (Phone Option 2) SHAOnline@schousing.com Payoffs (Phone Option 3) Please have your personal checking or savings account information as well as your SC Housing mortgage information handy because you will need this to complete your online payment. to ensure housing stability of those at risk of experiencing homelessness or RELATED: Federal judge overturns CDC's national eviction moratorium. You can find the complete list of acceptable documents in our FAQs page(opens in a new tab)(opens in a new tab)(opens in a new tab)(opens in a new tab)(opens in a new tab)(opens in a new tab). Tenants can also receive help in-person at. SC Stay Plus is pausing operations and is no longer accepting new applications. We understand the benefits, Long said. . assistance. Cayce, SC (06/03/2021) - Dominion Energy is connecting renters with additional customer assistance funding through the SC Stay Plus program, a new federally funded program from SC Housing. By, Spoleto Festival USA Chamber Music Series, South Carolina Appleseed Legal Justice Center, Why viral reservoirs are a prime suspect for long COVID sleuths, The nursing staffing crisis is likely to continue for years, a new survey says, Senators to hear testimony on Supreme Court ethics, Japan's Kishida plans to visit Yoon in South Korea before G-7. To make it easier to find resources in your area, we . Appropriations Act, 2021 (as revised March 16, 2021), and 2) South Carolina Joint Resolution R.26 requirements (as amended March 4, 2021). unemployed for over 90 days, and applicants who have been provided with an Reduced hours as a result of an employer going out of business or a reduction of staff; or. She told me upfront she could not discuss the specifics of this case. Funding from the US Treasury has been fully dispersed to applicants, and it is unknown at this time if any additional funding will be received. Scott Morgan is the Upstate multimedia reporter for South Carolina Public Radio, based in Rock Hill. ET Monday Friday. a rolling basis until the funds are exhausted. Or maybe theyve gotten an eviction notice and they know they only have a certain amount of time to hurry up and get those payments into their landlord or they risk being put out on the street. We are trying to prevent that from happening as much as we possibly can.. Carolina households that are unable to pay rent and utilities due to the COVID-19 by dialing 211 or visiting sc211.org online. The SC Stay Plus program for rental and utility relief will open for new applications in May 2021. This has been going on for fourth months now so WBTV tried talking to SC Housing to find out why there is even a hold up to begin with. click here to complete the online landlord-tenant certification form meet this requirement. These funds are made available to South Carolinians Funding for the program was provided through the Consolidated Appropriations Act that Congress passed in December 2020. You must complete the entire application once started. Households with an income at or below 50% of the median income, Individuals who have been unemployed for more than 90 days, Those whose landlords have already moved to evict them, A signed lease or other document that shows you have agreed to make rent payments, Proof of income such as 2020 tax returns or recent pay stubs, Proof of financial hardship, for example, an unemployment verification letter. On Monday, the states housing finance and development authority announced that applications for the SC Stay Plus program would open by early May. There could be 100,000 households in South Carolina, who because of COVID are in some sort of danger of housing instability, Winston said. You can find your loan information on our Borrower Portal. Winston adds that even if you have been given an eviction notice, SC Housing might be able to help. Columbia, SC 29210. Has a household income at or below 80% of county median income. INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING THIS APPLICATION. Answer each question honestly. Proof of housing instability. She says they are constantly changing how they serve their applicants by listening to feedbackboth good and bad. Payment assistance is also offered through state and federal programs, such as the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the S.C. Stay Plus Program. SC Stay Plus Program SCHousing.com This program runs through September 30, 2026, or as long as funds remain available. after obligating funds to all other eligible residents in the state. Call 1.800.476.0412. housing instability. Funds from this She graduated from Stony Brook University in 2019 and has written for The New York Times, The New York Post and NBC. Additionally, SC Stay Plus will provide utility assistance SC Stay Plus is for renters only; the program will not A viewer reached out to WBTV about South Carolina promising financial assistance and then, not giving it to him. Emergency Rental Assistance Program/SC Stay Plus Emergency Rental Assistance Program funds are available to help eligible residential renters pay up to 12 months of past-due rent and utility bills . This program runs through September 30, 2026, or as long as funds remain available. This person packs away what is left of his almost empty apartment. eviction notice or a notice of nonpayment. Pause here to collect the required documents before beginning your application. Please allow 30 minutes to complete this application. Cayce / West Columbia, Springdale, South Congaree, Pine Ridge, Three Fountains. that have been covered by other federally funded rental assistance. We still encourage them to apply and give them an opportunity to explain why they may be missing something.. The funding was made available through ERA (ERAP), which was enacted in December 2020.. Columbia, SC. We want customers to know that we are here to help and ready to assist individuals, families and businesses in our service area, including those who may be struggling for the first time, said Sam Dozier, general manager of customer service at Dominion Energy. Those who qualify can receive help on their bills dating back to March 13, 2020. (COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance) Program Overview and Eligibility. click here to learn more. South Carolina Federal Credit Union 4.3. Visit the South Carolina Emergency Management Division website for disaster information . under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, and South Carolina Joint What does that mean? Assistance is available for households in which one or more individuals meet all the following criteria: RELATED: $12.5 million in rental assistance funds now available for Richland County residents, Applications for SC Stay Plus, a state-wide rental assistance program, are NOW OPEN! Certified CDFI, SBA, and USDA, Click here to complete the initial application, national eviction moratorium through March 31, 2021, South Carolina Legal Services has a guide, to SC Housings list of resources weve created for renters, these resources weve put together to help you avoid foreclosure, SC Stay Third-Party Authorization Form Mortgage Assistance, SC Stay Third-Party Authorization Form Rent Assistance, Black Moses Freedom Festival announces additional attendees for June event, Beaufort County Hosting Regional Earth Day 2023 Clean Up Event, Friends of Caroline to host butterfly release & remember, Must certify that they are eligible and their income is. At this point I feel like Ive been scammed, the person said, who has asked to remain anonymous because of the situation. Funding from the US Treasury has been fully dispersed to applicants, and it is unknown at this time if any additional funding will be received.During this pause: This question is to test whether you are a human visitor or a robot. Please note that this is an external link. The $272 million SC Stay Plus program, funded by the U.S. Treasury, offers up to 12 months of assistance for past due rent and assistance for delinquent utility payments for qualifying individuals and families impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in 39 S.C. counties. Have experienced financial hardship due to COVID-19, Demonstrate a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability, Make less than 80% of the area median income. SC Housing launched a similar program called SC Stay in February, in which $25 million in emergency renters assistance was given out. screenshot from a payment application), Proof of risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability (Applicants may "self-attest" to this qualification as part of the standard application process), Proof of income (Note: applicants must provide all income sources for all household members at or over the age of 18). And as for the anonymous renter, WBTV is told he will get some help from SC Housing for his situation. With more than 35 years of experience serving housing authorities across the nation, Nan McKay and Associates (NMA) is widely known as the gold standard for performance excellence in the public housing and affordable housing industry. She is also a Report for America corps member. Please note that this is an external link. These arrearages must have occurred during or after March 13, 2020. Just do to my unfortunate circumstance of me losing my job and then having to wait for SC Stay this is the situation Im in.. "We saw 7,000 applicants in the first six days that the . If you need additional assistance, SC Stays toll-free hotline can be reached by calling 833.985.2929 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Awards will be made to eligible households on At this point I feel like Ive been scammed, the person said.