Rockville, MD (Thursday, May 28, 2020) – Montgomery County will launch a COVID-19 Rental Assistance Program for tenants who meet eligibility requirements. The Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County (HOC) will administer the program and accept applications and supporting documents from 10 a.m. on Monday, June 1, through 2 p.m. on Friday, June 5. Applications will be reviewed using a random selection method from the final pool of applications received by the deadline.
The COVID-19 Rental Assistance Program is intended to provide partial rent support to low-income County households that have experienced income loss due to the COVID-19 health crisis. An application for unemployment insurance is required, if eligible. Approved households may receive a maximum of $500 per month for three months, paid to their landlord. Households that apply must demonstrate the ability to maintain rent obligations using the rental assistance plus existing resources.
A fact sheet and sample application form are available now in English and Spanish at www.hocmc.org/extra/878-covid-rental-assistance-program.html.
To guide residents in gathering information needed to apply, the website includes more detail about program requirements and supporting documents for the application. Once the application process opens on June 1, applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their application online at www.hocmc.org/extra/878/-covid-rental-assistance-program.html.
Supporting eligibility documents may be submitted along with the application or separately – as long as applications and documents are received by 2 p.m. on June 5.
The application includes questions and requests for documents that apply to some, but not all, situations. As stated in the form, applicants are only required to provide information and submit documentation that applies to their situation. If an applicant is unsure of something, they may include an explanation with their application.
Those unable to complete the application online may pick up a paper application beginning Tuesday, May 26, and submit a completed paper application and required documents. Those applications must be dated and time-stamped, in the designated drop box outside one of four HOC locations. As with online applications, paper applications will be accepted from 10 a.m. on Monday, June 1, until 2 p.m. on Friday, June 5. The four locations with paper forms, time-stamp equipment and drop boxes are:
- 10400 Detrick Ave. Kensington, MD 20895
- 231 East Deer Park Dr., Gaithersburg, MD 20877
- 101 Lakeforest Blvd, No. 200, Gaithersburg, MD 20877
- 880 Bonifant St., Silver Spring, MD 20910
The County encourages potential applicants to consider program eligibility requirements for this and other programs and to seek assistance from programs matching their situation. The maximum allowable annual income for applications to the COVID-19 Rental Assistance program is listed below. Emergency funding from County and federal sources will provide support for a range of rental housing needs for low-income households.
| Family Size | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| Income Limit | $55,750 | $63,700 | $71,650 | $79,600 | $86,000 | $92,350 | $98,750 | $105,100 |
The COVID-19 Rental Assistance Program is funded through the CARES Act as a Community Development Block Grant to provide low-income households with assistance for up to three months to support meeting housing obligations and avoid eviction. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, permanent residents or other qualified aliens. (8 U.S.C. 1641).
Residents who have questions or require assistance with the COVID-19 Rental Assistance program are encouraged to contact HOC by calling 240-627-9606 or 240-627-9680 or sending email to CDBG_RAP@hocmc.org. Alternatively, specialists at the HOC Call Center are available to answer basic program questions at 240-627-9400 or by sending an email to help@hocmc.org.