Summary

King County Executive Dow Constantine announced the end of the historic three-year Eviction Prevention and Rent Assistance Program that reached more than 40,000 people and distributed $390 million around the region. King County will transition by July to the new Keep King County Housed rent assistance program, funded by the state.

Story

King County Executive Dow Constantine announced today the upcoming transition of the historic three-year Eviction Prevention and Rent Assistance Program (EPRAP) that reached more than 40,000 people, distributed $390 million in assistance, and addressed racial inequities in housing access with 74 percent of recipient households headed by a person of color. Renters are more likely than homeowners to be cost burdened and people of color are more likely to be severely cost burdened.

“Thanks to many partners and organizations over the past few years, EPRAP was an extraordinary effort that ensured greater housing stability in uncertain times,” said Executive Constantine. “Our ability to provide $390 million in assistance made a real difference for tens of thousands of residents who struggled during the pandemic. The need for rental assistance continues - and exceeds the limited funding available. These state funds are an important complement to our local housing investments to help more people stay housed.”

EPRAP began at the start of the pandemic in 2020 within King County’s Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS). The unprecedented size and scale of this emergency response contributed to a slow start, but the program ultimately exceeded expenditure goals, and at its peak distributed between $30-$40 million in assistance per month. DCHS partnered with more than 60 organizations to provide outreach and supported tenants and landlords throughout the application process.

The remaining EPRAP funds from the State Department of Commerce will be exhausted by the end of May, at which point DCHS will transition the program into the new state-level rental assistance program, administered by United Way of King County. The new state-funded program has different requirements from the federally funded EPRAP. To ensure continuity in the assistance available for residents during the transition, King County has identified temporary fund sources, and Executive Constantine has also notified the King County Council that funds from the existing Veterans, Seniors and Human Services levy will be temporarily reallocated.

Since June 2022, United Way oversaw the remaining rent assistance funding from the State Department of Commerce and the U.S. Treasury and served 4,234 households.

“United Way of King County is leading the way in disbursing much-needed rental assistance to ensure county residents stay housed. We are working with eight other agencies to get the funds out in the community,” said Jake Janesch, United Way program manager for rental assistance and homeless prevention. “Each agency is focused on providing support and case management to families. And United Way is doing case management while also focusing on communication, weekly payments and grievances."

United Way of King County will again contract with a network of rental assistance providers for the newly established state program beginning in June and is working in close coordination with King County.

Eviction prevention work will also continue with the state program. Throughout EPRAP, King County distributed $16 million to the Housing Justice Project (HJP) to help prevent an increase in homelessness by providing legal services and funds to stop eviction after legal action had been taken with tenants. Nearly 450 households are currently being supported through HJP’s eviction prevention work, and 1,061 households have already received assistance.

Keep King County Housed will be funded through state document recording fees. DCHS is coordinating with the state to implement the program to adhere to new guidelines and protocols.

Relevant links

• EPRAP Providing Partners
• Eviction Prevention & Rent Assistance Program | King County
• King County Eviction Prevention and Rent Assistance Program distributes $46.3 million so far; keeps more than 4,600 households safely housed | October 2021

Quotes

Thanks to many partners and organizations over the past few years, EPRAP was an extraordinary effort that ensured greater housing stability in uncertain times. Our ability to provide $390 million in assistance made a real difference for tens of thousands of residents who struggled during the pandemic. The need for rental assistance continues - and exceeds the limited funding available. These state funds are an important complement to our local housing investments to help more people stay housed.

United Way of King County is leading the way in disbursing much-needed rental assistance to ensure county residents stay housed. We are working with eight other agencies to get the funds out in the community. Each agency is focused on providing support and case management to families. And United Way is doing case management while also focusing on communication, weekly payments and grievances.

For more information, contact:

Katie Rogers, Department of Community and Human Services, 206-758-8287