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Announcements

The Indiana Housing & Community Development Authority, IHCDA, has just announced pre-eviction programs in Indiana, that they have $400 million in rental assistance for 92 counties in Indiana, including St. Joseph County, and have information for tenants and landlords alike.

Click here to view those resources.

The State’s Rental Assistance Portal opened this week to begin accepting applications for the Indiana Emergency Rental Assistance (IERA) program. A link to apply along with a series of informational documents in English and Spanish can be found on the top banner of www.indianahousingnow.org.

• View the information shown below in PDF format:
  • English
  • Spanish

The IERA program is designed to decrease evictions, increase housing stability, and prevent homelessness by helping renters whose income has been negatively impacted by COVID-19 with rent and utility assistance. IERA can provide eligible renter households with up to 12 months of rental assistance.

Qualifying applicants may also receive utility assistance for past due utilities (electric, gas, water, sewer, and trash), home energy (fuel oil, wood, coal, pellets, and propane) expenses, and assistance with past due expenses for internet/broadband.

In addition to rental assistance, other COVID-19 resources remain available for Indiana households:

• Mortgage Assistance – Indiana homeowners who have fallen behind on their mortgage payments can apply for mortgage assistance through the Indiana Foreclosure Prevention Network (IFPN): 877gethope.org
• Utility Assistance – The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps Hoosier homeowners and renters pay their heat and electric bills: eap.ihcda.in.gov
• Coronavirus Eviction & Foreclosure Prevention Guide – This guide provides questions to frequently asked questions and resources for Indiana households financially impacted by COVID-19 to help them avoid eviction or foreclosure: https://www.in.gov/ihcda/4464.htm
• COVID-19 Eviction Information Sheet – https://www.in.gov/courts/files/lttf-b-chart.pdf 

News Releases

September 24, 2021

FHFA Extends Availability of COVID-19 Multifamily Forbearance

​​Washington, D.C. — Today, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) will continue to offer COVID-19 forbearance to qualifying multifamily property owners as needed, subject to the continued tenant protections FHFA has imposed during the pandemic. This is the fourth extension of the programs, which were set to expire September 30, 2021. On October 1, 2021, FHFA will allow the Enterprises to continue offering COVID-19 forbearance to qualified multifamily owners, unless otherwise instructed by FHFA.

Fair Housing Resources

• Fair Lending Guide – English
• Fair Lending Guide – Spanish
• Fair Housing Booklet – English
• Fair Housing Booklet – Spanish

30 Fair Housing Tips and Facts

1. What is the SBHRC?
2. What happens when you file a charge?
3. View the life of a housing charge here
4. Stay up to date on training!
5. What is the Fair Housing Act?
6. Prohibited Housing Activities pt. 1
7. Prohibited Housing Activities pt. 2
8. Prohibited Housing Activities pt. 3
9. Prohibited Housing Activities pt. 4
10. Who is exempt from the Fair Housing Act?
11. Did you know there are two new protected classes covered under the Fair Housing Act?
12. Race and Housing
13. Sex and Housing
14. Religion and Housing
15. National Origin and Housing
16. Disability and Housing
17. Familial Status and Housing
18. Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity and Housing
19. Know your local fair housing agencies!
20. Are you dealing with eviction? Know who to talk to!
21. Are you experiencing discrimination or landlord/tenant issues?
22. When should you contact Code Enforcement?
23. Who to contact when you are having issues with Section 8 or Public Housing?
24. Having trouble paying rent because of COVID? Learn about rental assistance
25. Who do you contact when you have issues outside the Commission’s geographical jurisdiction?
26. Watch out for discriminatory advertising!
27. Where you a victim of one of these common housing violations?
28. What is a Reasonable Accommodation?
29. What is a Reasonable Modification?
30. Fair Housing Tips to Remember
31. Still have questions? Call the Commission today!

Resources

• American Civil Liberties Union – Indiana
• Chicago HUD Office
• Indiana Legal Services
• Indiana Protection & Advocacy Services – IPAS
• Indianapolis HUD Office
• US Civil Rights Commission
• US Department of Housing and Urban Development
• Volunteer Lawyer Network
• Indiana Consumer Complaint – Indiana Professional Licensing Agency
  • https://indianaattorneygeneral.secure.force.com/ConsumerComplaintForm