To be eligible, you must:
• Be an Idaho resident. (If you live in Ada County, you must apply here.)
• Meet the program’s income limits.
• Be unable to pay rent or utilities because of a financial hardship that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A financial hardship that occurred during the pandemic includes being qualified for unemployment benefits or experiencing a reduction in household income, having an increase in living expenses or experiencing other financial hardships.

You can check on the status of an application by logging in to the application portal using the same information you provided when you registered. Once there, you can view information regarding the status of your application and information such as which HPP team member has been assigned to the application. If you do not see someone assigned, it means we haven’t reached your application yet.

The program receives hundreds of applications every week. Applications are prioritized based on factors addressed elsewhere in this FAQ.
Additionally, applications that have been completed by the tenant AND the landlord are reviewed first. When you submit your application, please make sure you correctly entered your landlord’s email address. Your landlord will get an invitation to complete their part of the application. If your landlord has not completed their part or did not receive an invitation, they can register in the system and complete their part of the application. Please make sure your landlord has the email address you used on your application. There is a landlord guide to the application that can be found elsewhere on this page.

The application portal uses email addresses to match tenant and landlord applications. If you are a tenant, ask your landlord if they are already registered in the portal and use that email address in your application. If you are a landlord, please confirm with your tenant that you have the correct information. For tenants and landlords, please be sure that your entries are without any typos.

No. The lease agreement must be with the owner or property manager, not a renter of the leased space.

No. The Housing Preservation Program provides assistance to renters who are unable to pay their rent or utilities because of financial hardship related to the COVID-19 pandemic. If you’re a homeowner who has experienced financial hardship because of the pandemic and you’ve fallen behind on your mortgage, you can apply for help here.

The prioritization of resources among eligible households is employed to ensure those with the greatest need are served first. The prioritization factors are:

• Households with incomes less than 50% area median income.
• Households with one or more members who have been unemployed for at least 90 days.
• Households that have been served with an eviction notice.

Applications that have both tenant and landlord portions complete will be reviewed first. The remaining applications will be processed based on the date and time the application is received.

Yes, but you will need to have a landlord who is willing to rent to you first. This means that the landlord is ready to sign a lease. The program may be able to help with a security deposit and the first three months of rent (subject to funding availability). If you do not have a unit that you have been approved for, your application will not be reviewed.

If you own a manufactured home and have to lease your lot, you may be eligible for the lot/space rent and/or utilities.

Yes, but you must submit another application to be considered for additional assistance. Eligible households may be assisted for past-due rent and/or utilities and up to three months of future rent and/or utilities (subject to funding availability). Additional assistance may be approved when continued need is demonstrated and eligibility has been re-determined. If you are seeking assistance with only future rent, you must wait to apply until 30 days before your rent due date.

The amount of assistance received by each household will be based on each household’s circumstances and available funding. No household may receive more than a total of 18 months of assistance.

Upon confirming your demonstrated risk and verifying your inability to pay upcoming rent, you will be considered for prospective rent/utility assistance. If you are seeking assistance with only future rent owed, you must wait to apply until 30 days before your rent due date. This is to prioritize applicants with the most urgent need.

No. Once the review begins, processing may take up to 10 days. We will contact the applicant and payee upon payment approval and issuance. Please allow an additional 7-10 days for delivery by mail.

Yes. Assistance may cover non-excessive late fees.

No. Idaho Housing and Finance does not negotiate between a renter and their landlord or utility provider. Consider contacting Idaho Legal Aid for legal counsel.

Payments will be sent via check. Payment should arrive within 7-10 days after notification of an approved application.

Renters receiving a federal rental assistance payment or subsidy (e.g. Section 8, Housing Choice Voucher, CARES Act) are eligible to receive Housing Preservation Program assistance for the tenant-owed portion of the rental arrears that is not subsidized. Renters living in an income-based property with affordable rents (e.g., Tax Credit property), but not receiving a federal rental subsidy, are also eligible to receive assistance.

Assistance can be paid in all Idaho counties EXCEPT Ada County. Residents of Ada County should apply through the Boise City/Ada County Housing Authorities here.

Yes.

Yes. Assistance will not require proof of ability to satisfy future housing expenses.

No. The program is intended to help households with current rent and utility obligations and, on occasion, security deposits.

Idaho Housing does not provide legal counsel. Consider contacting Idaho Legal Aid for legal counsel.

No.

No.

Applicants must be accessible by either phone or email. After submitting your application, please regularly check your email, including the spam/junk folder, for our messages. You may provide a release of information for Idaho Housing to communicate with a representative of yours that has an active phone number or email.

Applicants must provide a copy of their lease agreement, a Certification of Program Eligibility proof of past-due rent or utilities or an eviction notice, proof of income, a government-issued ID, and a Release of Information.

We strongly encourage you to ensure you have all documentation entered into your application before submitting it. You may submit an application without attaching all required documentation. However, this will most likely lengthen the review process. After submitting your application, please ensure your voicemail box is set up and you can receive voicemail messages, and you are regularly checking your email, including spam/junk folder, for our messages.

You can certify that you have no income within the application.

Yes.

A lease agreement is a required document. You can still submit an application for assistance. However, you should contact your landlord to obtain a copy of your lease agreement. After submitting your application, please ensure your voicemail box is set up and you can receive voicemail messages, and you are regularly checking your email, including spam/junk folder, for our messages.

A notice of eviction is not required. A notice from your landlord indicating the amount of past-due rent (and for which period of time) is acceptable documentation. A ledger created by the renter is not sufficient documentation.

Local housing authorities, community action agencies, utility companies, libraries, your landlord, churches, your neighbors, family members, friends, and local government offices may be able to help you with scanning and submitting documentation to the portal. This page also includes links to application guides to help you complete the process.

By receiving assistance, the tenant and payee agree to the following terms:

1. Whenever possible, assistance payments will be made directly to the payee (landlord/utility company);
2. The tenant does not intend to vacate the unit during the period of assistance;
3. The landlord will not evict the tenant for non-payment of rent or related fees during the period of assistance;
4. The owner/landlord is NOT related to the tenant. If related, the landlord/owner will immediately notify IHFA of this relationship;
5. Funds issued for rental assistance will be pro-rated with excess funds being refunded to the program if tenancy ends during the period of assistance;
6. If funds are issued for security deposits, the landlord may deduct reasonable and documented damage from said deposit. The difference remaining will be refunded to the program regardless of when tenancy ends;
7. Rental assistance funds are not to be used for any costs other than rent and agreed-upon late fees;
8. There is not a duplicate assistance being paid for the period of assistance; and
9. The landlord may not continue to assess late or other fees following approval of an application.