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Arizona Rental Assistance Program


FAQs for Renters


FAQs for Landlords


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The Arizona Rental Assistance Program has ended and applications are no longer being accepted. Applications submitted on or before August 31, 2024 will continue to be processed.

This page will be temporarily maintained for archival purposes and to support the continued processing of existing applications.

There may be other programs available to you in your community! Visit 211.org, the Short-Term Crisis Services Program and your local Community Action Agency for help finding support.

Keeping renters safe and in their homes

Arizona Rental Assistance alleviated housing instability for eligible low income seniors and families with children. Eligible households could receive a lump-sum benefit payment equal to three (3) times the household’s monthly rent, not to exceed $10,500. Program benefits could be used to cover rental arrears, future rent, and rent late fees and penalties. To be eligible, a household had to meet income, needs, and household makeup guidelines (see “Eligibility” below). 

Arizona Rental Assistance was funded by State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) provided under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA). SLFRF is administered federally by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and DES administered Arizona Rental Assistance in accordance with ARPA, SLFRF, and Treasury guidance to meet the diverse needs of vulnerable Arizonans.

If you have questions about your Arizona Rental Assistance application, please call 1 (833) 912-0878. To check the status of an application submitted prior to the end of the program, please login to your account.

Eligibility

To be eligible for Arizona Rental Assistance, the following criteria had to be met at the time of the application:

  • The Applicant must be a tenant, obligated to pay rent by a written lease agreement in an eligible Arizona jurisdiction
  • The Household must be experiencing housing insecurity or risk of eviction, as shown by either: 
    • Eviction notice*;
    • Past due rent notice, OR
    • Past due utility bill (if eviction notice or past due rent notice cannot be provided)
  • At least one of the following must reside in the household:
    • A child under the age of 18; OR
    • A senior 60 years of age or older.
  • If all household members are 60 years of age or older, no additional income requirement is necessary. For all other qualifying households, one member of the household must either:
    • Have full-time employment (30 hours per week, 130 hours per month);
    • Be a qualifying recipient of unemployment, workers compensation, or disability benefits; OR
    • Be immediately available for full-time employment and had full-time employment in the last 4 months, completed an education or training program in the last 6 months, or have a full-time job offer starting within 3 months.
  • Household income must be at or below 80% Area Median Income (AMI)
Income Eligibility Based on Household Size (number of persons living in the home)
County 1 Person 2 Person 3 Person 4 Person 5 Person 6 Person 7 Person 8 Person+
Apache $32,850 $37,550 $42,250 $46,900 $50,700 $54,450 $58,200 $61,950
Cochise $38,300 $43,750 $49,200 $54,650 $59,050 $63,400 $67,800 $72,150
Coconino $50,900 $58,200 $65,450 $72,700 $78,550 $84,350 $90,150 $96,000
Gila $35,700 $40,800 $45,900 $50,950 $55,050 $59,150 $63,200 $67,300
Graham $39,200 $44,800 $50,400 $56,000 $60,500 $65,000 $69,450 $73,950
Greenlee $42,500 $48,600 $54,650 $60,700 $65,600 $70,450 $75,300 $80,150
La Paz $34,800 $39,800 $44,750 $49,700 $53,700 $57,700 $61,650 $65,650
Maricopa $52,400 $59,850 $67,350 $74,800 $80,800 $86,800 $92,800 $98,750
Mohave $36,800 $42,050 $47,300 $52,550 $56,800 $61,000 $65,200 $69,400
Navajo $32,850 $37,550 $42,250 $46,900 $50,700 $54,450 $58,200 $61,950
Pima $45,500 $52,000 $58,500 $64,950 $70,150 $75,350 $80,550 $85,750
Pinal $52,400 $59,850 $67,350 $74,800 $80,800 $86,800 $92,800 $98,750
Santa Cruz $32,850 $37,550 $42,250 $46,900 $50,700 $54,450 $58,200 $61,950
Yavapai $42,300 $48,350 $54,400 $60,400 $65,250 $70,100 $74,900 $79,750
Yuma $33,900 $38,750 $43,600 $48,400 $52,300 $56,150 $60,050 $63,900

Prior recipients of rental assistance benefits under the Emergency Rental Assistance Program are not eligible for Arizona Rental Assistance.  

*Applicants who have received and provide proof of eviction may receive priority processing

Payment Information

Eligible households received a lump-sum assistance payment equal to three (3) times the household’s monthly rent, not to exceed $10,500. Program benefits could be used to cover rental arrears, future rent, and rent late fees and penalties.

An applicant was required to provide their landlord’s contact information as part of the application process. The landlord was contacted three times to provide a notice and opportunity for the landlord to participate in the program, and receive the tenant’s benefits payment directly. If the landlord did not timely complete the application or declines to participate in the program, the tenant may then have received any assistance payment directly.

Grievances

If you disagree with your application decision, you have two options for resolution:

Option 1 - You may request reconsideration by submitting this ARAP/LIHEAP Decision Review form within 10 calendar days. Reconsideration is an internal review of the decision, and the fastest way for you to have your case reviewed. After reconsideration, if you are not satisfied with the decision, then you may appeal by submitting this Appeal Request form within 60 days.

Option 2 - You may immediately appeal, without reconsideration, to have your application decision reviewed by the administrative court. If you request an appeal, you cannot also request reconsideration. Any questions regarding the program decision will be addressed during a pre-hearing conference. You can file an appeal by submitting an Appeal Request form within 60 days of the decision.

Fraud Safeguards

DES will mitigate fraud by verifying the identities of prospective tenant and landlord applicants prior to the submission of an application using the identity verification service ID.me. During the application process, applicants will receive notice through their selected method of communication with a unique link and instructions on how to use ID.me.

Tenants requiring an accommodation may submit a paper application with government-issued photo identification to verify their identity if unable to use ID.me. Landlord representatives/employees can verify identity through ID.me and then enter the landlord company’s tax and banking information in the application.

Individuals or landlords who suspect fraud or believe they may have been a victim of identity theft used to file a fraudulent application for rental assistance can submit a fraud report online to DES or contact the fraud hotline at 1 (800) 251-2436 or (602) 542-9449. When reporting potential fraud, please be prepared to provide identifying information that will help locate the application in our systems.

Is My County or Tribal Land Covered by this Program?

The Arizona Rental Assistance (ARA) program by DES covered 14 counties and all Members residing on Indian Lands of Federally Recognized Tribes. In addition, residences in zip codes assigned to the cities of Phoenix and Mesa were also covered by the DES program. 

Tenants residing in Maricopa County (other than City of Phoenix, Glendale, and Mesa residents) were not eligible for Arizona Rental Assistance by DES, but may be eligible for similar city or county-operated programs in their area.

Information on how to apply for these programs is listed below.

City and County Programs
City/County Website Phone Number
Glendale Glendale Crisis Assistance Programs (623) 930-2854
Chandler Eviction Prevention Assistance (480) 963-1423 extension 118
Maricopa County
*all cities except: Phoenix, Mesa, Glendale, Chandler, Gilbert		 Maricopa County Human Services Department  (602) 506-5911

 

Contact Us

Current recipients, community partners, or applicants with an application submitted prior to the end of the program may contact the Arizona Rental Assistance hotline at 1 (833) 912-0878. The call center is available 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

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