Resources for Assistance with Rent & Utilities Expenses, and some Homeowner Resources

Share Your Rent Story with Washington Low Income Housing Alliance

The Housing Alliance is working to pass bills that limit how much landlords can raise rents and prevent predatory rent increases. They are seeking stories from tenants to help make sure lawmakers listen. Please see FLYER for more details.

The Circle: Mobile Homes- Pay less for your energy - PSE Workshop [SPANISH] Monday, Oct 28, 2024

We look forward to seeing you to learn about the most efficient and cost-effective ways to heat your home. Come meet Rosa Gonzalez and Jasmin Rangel from PSE to explore heating options for your mobile home, and you can also apply for a monthly discount of 5% to 45% on your electricity bill, as well as a PSE account credit ranging from $250 to $1,000. For help with the application in person, BRING the following items: - Your PSE account number or electric/gas utility bill. - The names and date of births of all adults and children in your household (no proof needed). - Gross income for all persons 18 years or older in your household (no proof needed).


City of Issaquah Utility & Other Discounts

The City of Issaquah provides discounts on select programs and services: 

Oct 6, 2022: The Issaquah City Council recently adopted  Ordinance No. 2986 regarding tenant protections. This ordinance goes into effect on October 6, 2022, and adds new sections to the City’s code to: * require landlords to provide not less than one hundred twenty (120) days' written notice for residential rent increases greater than three (3) percent; and * continue to require a minimum of thirty (30) days' prior notice of rent increases for subsidized housing, where the amount of rent is based on the income of the tenant, or circumstances specific to subsidized households, as provided in the Residential Landlord Tenant Act (Chapter 59.18 RCW). For the complete language, see Ordinance No. 2986. For tenant and landlord resources, including mediation services and legal assistance, please access resources here. For any other questions, please contact Human Services Manager, Monica Negrila

Utility Rebate Programs including Senior Utility Program

Other Discounts: Additional discounts are available for cable, internet, recreation passes, Metro and Sound transit, King County property taxes, etc. For questions about the programs or for additional resources needed, including assistance with filling out the forms, please call (425) 837-3416. Assistance is available in multiple languages.

 

Sammamish Water Plateau

Utility Bill Assistance Program (UBAP) - Eligible customers can get 45% off their water bill and 30% off their sewer base charges.

Issaquah Community Services Rent & Utilities

Are you a resident of the Issaquah School District facing temporary challenges with rent and utilities? You are not alone. We may be able to help provide the support you need during this difficult time. Please select Get Help to learn how to apply for assistance.  Our compassionate team of volunteers is committed to helping neighbors in need.

St. Vincent de Paul

provides emergency financial assistance for utilities and rent. Contact: (206) 767-6449, M-F, 8am-3pm.

The Housing Justice Project

has a new Rental Assistance that started in November.  Contact: (206) 267-7069. No online form available.

Jewish Family Services 

https://www.jfsseattle.org/assistance  Only accepting request for assistance via the website form. The website is only open for requests every Monday between 9am-5pm

Hopelink’s Energy & Water Assistance Program

Appointments for Energy Assistance are coming soon! We will resume appointments for the 2024-2025 Energy Season in November or December 2024. We are currently processing pre-screened clients and PSE HELP applications. You can apply for PSE HELP via PSE.com. If your power is completely disconnected, you’ve received an urgent shut-off notice, or have less than a 10-day supply of oil, wood or propane, you can call your nearest Hopelink center and/or 211 to check for crisis appointment options.

Indian American Community Services

Rent Assistance: If you are experiencing a short-term financial crisis due to unexpected expenses, IACS may be able to support you with rental assistance. For assistance please contact us at (253) 234-9989 (ext.5).

United Way Rental Assistance

If you live in King County or the City of Seattle, you may be eligible to get help with your rent. We’re working hard to help King County residents with much-needed rental assistance. Fill out the Client Intake Form for United Way’s Rental Assistance and Eviction Prevention Program to get started.

Financial Assistance offered by DSHS Community Services Office in King Eastside

Provides financial assistance to Washington residents in need who meet eligibility requirements. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF/WorkFirst): -  Provides monthly cash grants and medical assistance to eligible low-income families with minor children in the home. -  Applicants attend a WorkFirst orientation and eligibility interview.   -  Pregnant and parenting minors may be eligible for TANF benefits if they meet additional eligibility requirements, as determined by a DSHS social worker.   -  Adults may also be eligible for WorkFirst support, which will pay for items clients must have in order to look for work, prepare for work or accept a better job. -  Assistance may include transportation, car repairs, interview and work clothes, licenses and tools and equipment.   -  Assistance will be provided via vouchers or pre-paid merchant cards.

Bellevue: 805 156th Avenue Northeast, Bellevue, WA 98007 Voice 877-501-2233

Renton: 500 Southwest 7th Street, Renton, WA 98057 Email askdshs@dshs.wa.gov

King County Eviction Prevention and Rent Assistance Program

Due to limited funding remaining, the EPRAP program is no longer accepting new applications for rent assistance. The King County Eviction Prevention and Rent Assistance Program (EPRAP) helps residents behind in rent and utility payments due to COVID-19 hardships.

King County Housing Repair Program:

We provide funding for housing repair services to low-income homeowners and special needs renters in most parts of King County, located in Washington State. Our funding provides for repairs such as replacing your roof, installing a new septic system, repairs addressing emergency conditions, health and safety repairs or major building preservation issues within the single family owner occupied home. For renters with a disability, we provide funding to make your unit more accessible.

King County Surface Water Management Fee discount

If you qualify as a low-income household and live on your own property in unincorporated King County, you may be eligible for a 50% discount on the annual surface water management fee on your land parcel(s). Residents approved for the King County Senior Citizen and People with Disabilities Reduction in Property Taxes are already approved for this discount and do not need to apply. The application period is August 1 through September 15 of each year. Learn more about the fee discount on the King County website, call 206-477-4800, or send email. Information about the discount is available online in English, Español | 한국어 | Af-Soomaali | русский | 中文 | Tiếng Việt (Spanish, Korean, Somali, Russian, Chinese, and Vietnamese).

USDA Single Family Housing Repair Loans & Grants

Also known as the Section 504 Home Repair program, this provides loans to very-low-income homeowners to repair, improve or modernize their homes or grants to elderly very-low-income homeowners to remove health and safety hazards.

Help and Assistance for Washington Homeowners

Washington Home Ownership Resource Center

Do you need help now? Use our online portal or the hotline number to contact us. Online portal or call 1-877-894-4663

Homeowners: •Mortgage Default Foreclosure •Tax Lien Foreclosure •Home Repair Assistance •Reverse Mortgage Counseling •Refinancing Questions Homebuyers: Homebuyer Education •Pre-Purchase Counseling •Down Payment Assistance •Community Land Trust •Self-Help Homeownership •Renters: Impacted by Landlord's Foreclosure

Puget Sound Energy Bill Payment Assistance programs

If you’re struggling to pay your energy bills, our bill assistance programs and a home weatherization program can help. It’s easy to learn if you’re eligible for bill assistance or free home weatherization upgrades. First, check the income guidelines to see if you might qualify; then, contact the county agency that can assist you with your application.

Dec 2023: Puget Sound Energy (PSE) has launched a new Bill Discount Rate program to save customers money on monthly energy bills. Income-eligible customers can reduce their energy bills by up to 45% a month. The program is designed to be easily accessible and in most cases no proof of income is required. To quickly find out if you’re eligible, go to www.pse.com/discount. The only information needed is: household size, county of residency, and monthly household income.

Welcome to Ask An Expert- PSE Can Help! Learn about bill payment assistance, as well as resources PSE and our partners offer to help lower your monthly bill and make your home more energy efficient at low or no cost to you! This information shared is for renters and homeowners. If you missed a live Ask An Expert event or want to review the information that was presented, see the event recordings here in: English, Spanish (en español), Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt), and Chinese (中国人)

Puget Sound Energy Efficiency Boost

PSE created the Efficiency Boost program to offer higher rebates on energy-efficient upgrades to income-qualified customers. We want to help you work on improving the comfort and efficiency of your home without breaking the bank. These higher rebates can help put greater energy efficiency, and long-term utility bill savings, within reach.

Washington State Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

Providing funds from a federal block grant program to help low-income Washington state households maintain affordable, dependable utility services and avoid shutoff during the winter.

Air Conditioning: Eligible LIHEAP households can now apply for air conditioning units. Eligible households must be approved for the current LIHEAP program year before applying. This document outlines requirements, terms and conditions for receiving and operating the air conditioning unit. Please read it carefully. This document should be retained for the client’s records if they choose to receive an air conditioning unit

Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission COVID-19 Utility Assistance

If you are struggling to pay overdue utility bills you have options, but you need to take action now. Call your utility today and ask them about COVID-19 assistance funds, Payment plans, Budget billing. If you need help talking to your utility, call the UTC at 1-888-333-WUTC (9882) and we can help. You can also read our consumer alert for more information. Information available in multiple languages

Affordable Connectivity Program

Online For All is a new partnership between Civic Nation and the U.S. Department of Education to help close the digital divide by promoting high-speed internet access, affordability, and equity for students, their families, and all Americans. Online For All will bring together local community action and large-scale mobilization efforts to meet this moment and ensure that every household can get online. Please help spread the word by sharing these flyers with your clients.