The Kansas Housing Resource Corporation was awarded two approximately $150 million installments of emergency rental assistance from federal pandemic relief packages, and so far has provided about $30.4 million in rental, utility and internet assistance according to Executive Director Ryan Vincent.
Vincent said, “Part of our goal is to make sure it’s known that this resource is not only here now, but it’s going to be here through 2025.” The Kansas Emergency Rental Assistance program, or KERA, can pay up to 12 months of back rent as well as other housing related expenses, and Vincent stressed that the goal was to help keep tenants in their homes and provide payment to landlords who are owed back rent.
“For a landlord, our message is don’t evict,” Vincent said. “apply for KERA and make yourself whole.”