Rental Assistance

RA providers webpage header
Program Information


Pierce County Human Services and the City of Tacoma have received funding for rental and utility assistance for tenants impacted by COVID-19 and are behind on rent.


We anticipate a large number of applications and appreciate your patience.


The purpose of the Rental Assistance program is to prevent eviction for Pierce County residents (including those living in the City of Tacoma) impacted by COVID-19 who are behind on rent. Applicants must qualify as low-income at or below 80% Area Median Income (AMI), but priority will be given to those under 50% AMI. Below is a snapshot of 80% AMI income limits per household: 


blue 80 AMI chart april 2021


Renters who don't qualify for rental or utility assistance will be referred to the Housing Justice Project for free eviction resolution services. Additional services and resources are available here. Please read the FAQs below before applying. This project is being supported in part by federal award number ERA0377, awarded to Pierce County by the U.S. Dept. of Treasury.


Renters and landlords have two options to register:


1. Click here to apply online. For the best user experience, please use the Chrome or Safari web browsers. 

2. No internet? Call 2-1-1 to apply over the phone.


Note: Applying online is the fastest way to apply. Please only call 2-1-1 to apply if you have no internet access. If you are stuck on question 3, please log out and close your internet browser windows and try again. Be sure to answer all required questions before moving to the next, and read through the FAQs below


Opportunities to apply in person will be available later this Spring.

IMPORTANT FAQs:


Question: I am not getting my emails when I reset my password.

Answer: This happens when the tenant does not link the confirmation email. Please follow these steps:

  1. Click this link to reset your password: reset password
  2. Type in your email address.
  3. Go to your email, open the message that was just sent you (check your spam or junk folder) and click the link to confirm.
  4. Reset your password.

Question: I never received my email confirmation.

Answer: This happens when the email goes to the junk or spam folder and may be expired. Please follow these steps:

  1. Click this link to reset your password: reset password 
  2. Type in your email address.
  3. Go to your email, open the message that was just sent you (check your spam or junk folder) and click the link to confirm.
  4. Reset your password.
Our Process 

We have received thousands of applications and are working with providers to process applications as quickly as possible. Due to federal requirements, we must take additional steps to prioritize and verify documentation. We must prioritize households with the lowest income first, or households who have been unemployed for 90 days or longer. Once someone submits an application we do an internal process to determine basic eligibility, start the prioritization process, then send out to providers. We have 9 local non-profit providers processing applications and working as quickly as possible. Submitting all required documentation with your online application may help speed up the process.


apply now
This program is only for renters. 

Homeowners are not eligible to apply for this program, but they are encouraged to apply for utility assistance through our Energy Assistance Program.


Flexible Options


Renters living in the following situations may be eligible for assistance:
  • Staying in a hotel/motel
  • Renting from a family member or friend
  • Renting a room in a home
  • Using a housing choice/Section 8 voucher
  • Renting a home or apartment
Utility and Bill Pay


Renters past due on payments can apply for financial support for the following bills:
  • Electric
  • Water/Sewer
  • Gas
  • Garbage pickup
  • Fuel Oil
  • Internet
log in
Please only call 2-1-1 to apply if you do NOT have internet access.


If you are having technical issues or have questions about your application, email [email protected]

Items You'll Need to Apply


  • Household information, including birthdays, for all household members
  • Income verification for all household members for each source of income (Note: Stimulus checks are NOT counted as income for this program)
    • 2020 tax return or household W-2
    • Unemployment statements
    • Alimony, child support, disability, retirement or VA benefits
    • Current or past pay stubs
  • COVID impact documentation
    • Proof of employment
    • Loss of job or wages
  • Landlord name, email and phone number
  • Copy of lease or rental agreement
  • Landlord statement with past due balance
  • Past utility bills (if you're apply for utility assistance)
After You Apply
Landlords and tenants can participate in regular updates where the rental assistance team addresses FAQs and more. More information coming soon.


Log into the online application any time to check the status of your eligibility. You will need your username and password to log in or make edits to your application.

Landlord Limited Program

Landlords with 4 or fewer units with unresponsive tenants, or tenants deemed ineligible by other programs, can apply for the Washington State Landlord Limited Relief Program.


This is a Washington State Department of Commerce program. 

How-To Videos
  1. When can I apply for rental assistance/utility assistance?
  2. I received rental assistance in 2020. Am I eligible for assistance in 2021? Will I have to reapply?
  3. What is the application process?
  4. When/how will I be notified when I am approved?
  5. Who do I contact if I need assistance with the application?
  6. How do I know if my income qualifies for assistance?
  7. I received assistance through another rental assistance program in 2021. Can I apply for this program also?
  8. Does this program serve people in Tacoma?
  9. How will I be contacted by the provider?
  10. I rent a room from family/friend. Am I eligible to apply?
  11. I have gotten to page 3 of the application and it goes blank. OR the application isn’t working with my internet browser. What do I do?
  12. Now that I've applied for rental assistance, is this a guarantee that my application will be accepted?
  13. I live in a hotel/motel. Am I eligible to apply?
  14. My contact information has changed since I submitted my application, what do I do?
  15. I am currently homeless. Am I eligible to apply?
  16. My rent is not past due, can I apply for just utility assistance?
  17. What utilities are eligible?
  18. I have a housing choice/section 8 vouchers. Am I eligible to apply?
  19. I need help with my Car payment/Car Insurance. Does this program help with that?
  20. I left my apartment; can this program help with the balance I owe my landlord?
  21. Can I select a specific provider that I would like to work with?
  1. Can this program pay rent directly to the tenant?
  2. Can this program pay for my future rent payments?
  3. How long will it take to pay my rent?
  4. Who do I contact if I’m experiencing technical difficulties?
  5. What documents can I use as evidence of income?
  6. What documentation do I need from my landlord?
  7. I applied for assistance and am now past due for an additional month of rent. May I re-apply if I need more rental assistance?
  8. Is rental assistance provided per lease holder or per residential dwelling?
  9. Can I go back and make changes to my original application if I have realized I made a mistake?
  10. I was unable to attach documents when I submitted my application, what do I do now?
  11. I'm not behind in rent yet, but I will be soon. Can I apply?
  12. Do I need to pay back rental assistance I receive?
  13. Does this program help with move-in costs?
  14. How do I submit documentation for multiple properties as a landlord?
  15. Will my tenants be able to see my W-9 or banking information after I pre-register?
  16. What sources of income are included in the household income?
  17. I have documents that I could not upload. What do I do with them?
  18. I am a landlord and want to upload documents for my tenants. How do I do that?
  19. I can’t remember my password. What should I do?
  20. It says to “verify my email.” How do I do that?
  21. I don’t live in Pierce County. Can I still apply?
View All
About the Eviction Moratorium


The eviction moratorium has been extended through June 2021. 


  • You still must pay rent eventually. If you can afford your rent now, pay it.
  • Under the eviction moratorium, landlords can't increase residential rents and are expected to offer tenants a repayment plan. Landlords also can't charge late fees under the moratorium. 
  • People can still be evicted for other reasons, such as property damage or criminal behavior.
  • You cannot be evicted during the crisis unless you are causing a threat, or your landlord wants to sell or move into the property.
  • The proclamation bans retaliation against tenants and creates a legal defense for tenant lawsuits.

Pierce County residents at risk of eviction due to non-payment of rent are eligible for free resolution services. Whether it’s creating a payment plan, leaving an eviction filing off your record or extending your due date to help you get on your feet, the Eviction Resolution Program has specialists to help find solutions that work for both the tenant and landlord.
 


picture of neighborhood
About the Utility Disconnect Prohibition


As of March 18, effective for all Washington State utilities until at least July 31, 2021, the Governor has stated that all energy, telecommunications and water providers are prohibited from the following:

  • Disconnecting any residential customers from energy, telecommunications, or water service due to nonpayment on an active account, except at the request of the customer.
  • Refusing to reconnect any residential customer who has been disconnected due to nonpayment.
  • Charging fees for late payment or reconnection of energy, telecommunications, or water service.
  • Disconnecting service to any residential customer who has contacted the utility to request assistance from the utility’s COVID-19 Customer Support Program.
Additional Resources


Contact


    Rental Assistance Team

    Email