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Arizona Rental Assistance Program (ARAP) Frequently Asked Questions for Renters

The information contained on this page is temporarily maintained for archival purposes and to support the continued processing of existing applications.

Applying for Assistance

The Arizona Rental Assistance Program has ended, when was the last day I could apply for rental assistance benefits?

The final day that Arizona Rental Assistance applications were accepted was August 31, 2024. Applications are not accepted if submitted on or after September 1, 2024.

How will applications be processed after the program ends?

Applications submitted prior to September 1, 2024 will continue to be processed in the order received. Applicants may log into their account to view the status of their application, or contact a representative for assistance.

How do I determine how many individuals are included in my household?

All persons who live in the household, regardless of age and/or relationship to each other, shall be included as part of the application. Temporary visitors or guests who have another residence are not considered household members.

What is included when determining my household income?

All earned and unearned income from all household members 18 years of age or older (or 16-17 years of age if not full-time high school or equivalent) are included as part of your household income. This may include:

  • Employment and self-employment income (1099, tax return, pay stubs)
  • SSA, SSI, VA, or other benefit or assistance payments (award letters)
  • Child support or alimony payments (court records)
  • Unemployment insurance payments
  • Other benefit payments or awards
  • All additional income from other sources

If I receive SNAP Supplemental Nutrition Assistance or TANF Cash Assistance benefits, does that count toward my income for this program?

No.

What documents are needed for tenants to apply for assistance?

When applying online, you will be asked to upload specific documents to verify eligibility as needed for your household. Below is a list of the categories of verification documents, and types of documents which will be accepted.

Proof of Housing Instability or Risk of Eviction (Provide One):

  • Eviction notice (will receive priority application processing);
  • Past due rent notice

Proof of Residence (Provide one for the Applicant, and at least one senior in the household, if any):

  • Utility bill or utility company records, current within the last 60 days;
  • Driver’s license or other Motor Vehicles Division documents;
  • State issued identification;
  • Tax office records;
  • School records;
  • Rent receipt;
  • City Directory;
  • Church records;
  • Housing agreement; OR
  • Statement from any of the following, including a signature and phone number:
    • Non-relative employer;
    • Non-relative landlord; or
    • Other non-relative.

Proof of Identity (provide one for the Applicant, and at least one child or senior in the household) Must have subject Household member’s full name and date of birth:

  • Adoption records*;
  • Birth certificate*;
  • Hospital or public records of birth*;
  • Citizenship and immigration documents;
  • Custody agreement*;
  • Court records*;
  • Driver’s license;
  • Census records* / family census card*;
  • ID card or records from health benefits or another assistance or social service program*;
  • Military records*;
  • School records* / identification;
  • Tribal records*;
  • Wage stubs;
  • Work ID;
  • Voter registration card;
  • Social Security Card;
    *Also serve as relationship verification documents for families with children under the age of 18

Proof of Income for any household members 18 and older that earn income (or 16-17 years of age if not full-time high school student or equivalent). Provide any documentation of both earned and unearned income, if any:

Documentation of Earned Income:

  • Paystub current within the last 60 days
  • Employment verification or signed/dated letter from employer including;
  • name, address, phone number of employer;
  • frequency of pay periods;
  • gross pay amount (hourly, salary, etc.); and
  • day of week pay is received by employee.
  • a letter from an agency providing government-sponsored training;
  • an offer letter from current employer when employee has not yet received first wage payment;
  • self-employment accounting records;
  • bank statements or records; or
  • a client’s statement, when all other proofs are unavailable and all attempts have been made to secure verification, with an explanation why the proofs are unavailable.

Documentation of Unearned Income:

  • Assistance payment records
  • Social Security Administration (SSA) award letters or Supplementary Security Income (SSI) records;
  • Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) award letters or disability benefit records;
  • Other benefit agency or payer records or award letters;
  • Bank records;
  • Court records or court orders (e.g., child support or alimony);
  • Arizona State benefit award letters, receipts, or other documentation;
  • Federal government award letters, receipts, or other documentation;
  • Federal or state tax forms;
  • Insurance policies;
  • Sales contracts; or
  • Unemployment insurance records.

Proof of Employment, Support, or Educational, Vocational, or Job Training Program for one household member. Provide one of the following:

  • Proof of Employment (See “Documentation of earned Income” above)
  • Proof of qualifying recipient of either unemployment, workers compensation, or disability benefits
  • Proof of availability for full-time employment evidenced by:
    • Full time employment in the last 4 months;
    • Completed an educational, vocational, or job training program in the last 6 months; or
    • Job offer for full time employment that begins within 3 months.

What happens if there are questions about my application or my application is incomplete?

If there are questions about your application or it is incomplete, and as a result an eligibility determination cannot be made, you will be sent a written notice (via email) of the document(s) and/or information required to complete your application. Your application will be placed in a “Need Information” status, and you will have 45 days from the date of the notice to login to your account, submit the required documentation and/or information and complete your application. If you do not complete your application, it will be denied and you may later reapply.

Will I be notified if my application is determined to be ineligible for assistance?

Yes. You will be notified by email if your application was denied. You may also view the application status by logging in to your account. If you disagree with the denial, you may request reconsideration, and/or file an appeal (see Grievances Section for more information).

Will I be notified if my application is determined to be eligible for rental assistance?

You will be notified by email if your application is approved. You may also review the application status by logging in to your account. You will be notified of disbursement payments in the same way.

What are the various application statuses I might see when applying for the portal?

Application Statuses
Status Description
Pending Application is submitted but not yet reviewed
In Review Application is under review
Denied Application is not approved. You can appeal this decision by submitting a request for reconsideration or appeal form
Duplicate The application appears to be a duplicate and is under review
Waiting on landlord The tenant portion of the application is approved but is pending landlord information
Need information The application requires additional documentation or information from the tenant
Hold - Identity issue There is a problem with verifying the identity of the tenant or landlord
Approved The tenant and landlord portions of the application are approved and payments are in progress
Disbursed Payment has been completed
Funding Payment is scheduled to be disbursed, but has not yet cleared the bank
Information Received Additional documentation has been submitted and is being reviewed by the application processing team.

How will my application information be used or shared?

Information provided on your application will be used for purposes of determining your eligibility for Arizona Rental Assistance. Your sensitive information will be protected at all times. Demographic information provided may be used for reporting purposes to the U.S. Department of Treasury. Some information may be shared with Arizona Courts during eviction proceedings, when requested and as applicable based on procedural or administrative requirements.

Eligibility

Do I have to be in arrears to receive Arizona Rental Assistance?

To qualify, you must show that you are experiencing housing instability by providing either an eviction notice or past due rent notice, or otherwise establish the Household's financial instability. You must also meet all other eligibility criteria.

Can I receive assistance if I have a rent-to-own agreement?

Yes, as long as no member of the household is a signer or cosigner to the mortgage on the property, does not hold the deed or title to the property, and the option to purchase has not been exercised.

Can I receive assistance if I live in manufactured housing or a mobile home?

Yes, rental payments for either a manufactured home and/or the parcel of land the manufactured home occupies are eligible.

Can I receive Arizona Rental Assistance if my residence is on Tribal territory?

Yes.

If I don’t have a written housing agreement but am still renting, am I eligible to receive assistance?

No. Occupying a rental residence is considered a valid and current tenancy only if there is a written agreement, such as a lease.

Am I eligible if I or a member of my household has previously or is currently receiving other rental assistance?

Your household will not be eligible if:

  • You or a member of your household previously received rental assistance under the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP); 
  • You or a member of your household previously received Arizona Rental Assistance benefits; or
  • You or a member of your household are currently receiving rental assistance (or subsidy) from any other source which covers your full rent payment.

Your household may be eligible if:

  • You or a member of your household previously received utility-only assistance under the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP), and did not receive rental assistance benefits.
  • You or a member of your household are currently receiving rental assistance (or subsidy) from any other source, but that benefit does not cover your full rent payment (you may receive assistance for the non-covered portion of your rent).

There is not a child under the age of 18 or senior 60 years of age or older living in my household. Am I eligible for Arizona Rental Assistance?

No. To be eligible for Arizona Rental Assistance, the household must have either a child under the age of 18, or a senior 60 years of age or older living in the household.

How many children or seniors must live in my household for me to be eligible?

At least one child under the age of 18, OR one senior 60 years of age or older must live in the household to be eligible.

As part of the application, you must provide identity verification documents for the child or senior who qualifies the household, proof of residence for any qualifying senior household member, and/or information regarding the relationship to any qualifying child household member.

A senior or child lives in my household. Does that mean that the senior or child’s parent has to submit the application?

No. Any person in the household 18 years of age or older can apply on behalf of the household. The applicant will be required to verify their identity, and provide income, employment, identity, and other information regarding household members - including information regarding the qualifying senior or child - to complete the application.

A child lives in my household, but I am not the child’s parent. Am I eligible to apply?

A child must be in the care and physical custody of a parent, non-parent relative, or legal permanent guardian who lives in the household to be eligible. 

A non-parent relative includes:

  • stepmother or stepfather;
  • grandparent(s);
  • blood or adoptive: brother, sister, uncle, aunt, first cousin, nephew, niece;
  • preceding generation persons with prefixes: grand or great or any multiple of these prefixes;
  • first cousins once-removed; or
  • a spouse of any individual named above, even if death or divorce has terminated the marriage.

A legal permanent guardian is a person awarded custody by a court.

I am a grandparent who provides full-time care for my grandchild, or an aunt/uncle who provides full-time care for my niece/nephew, but I do not have a formal custody agreement. Does my child qualify?

Yes. As a non-parent relative who provides for the care and custody of a child, your household would qualify. You will need to provide identity verification documents for the child (e.g., birth certificate) and may need to provide more information regarding your relationship. See “What documents are needed for tenants to apply for assistance?” for accepted verification documents.

I am 30 and live alone. My brother, sister-in-law, and niece (age 5) are coming to visit for two weeks. Do I qualify?

No. Your brother, sister-in-law, and niece are not household members because they are only guests/visiting; and you do not provide care and custody of your niece.

I am 45 and live alone. My mother (65 years of age) is moving in with me so I can help her with day to day living. Do I qualify?

Yes. Your mother is a qualifying senior and when she moves in with you, is a household member making your household eligible. You will need to provide identity and residence verification documents for your mother as part of the application. See “What documents are needed for tenants to apply for assistance?” for accepted verification documents.

I am 35 and divorced, and share custody of my child (age 10) with my ex-spouse who lives separately from me. Do I qualify?

Yes. As you provide care and have physical custody of your child, you are eligible based upon your child even if the child is away from the home for a portion of the year due to a shared-custody arrangement. You will need to provide identity verification documents for your child, and may need to provide a copy of your custody agreement as part of the application. See “What documents are needed for tenants to apply for assistance?” for accepted verification documents.

Do I have to have full-time employment (30 hours per week, or 130 hours per month) to receive Arizona Rental Assistance?

No. Arizona Rental Assistance requires the household to establish or demonstrate a current or future means of support. This is required only for one household member. If a household member is not employed this can also be established by showing you or a household member currently receive unemployment, workers compensation, or disability benefits (except when all residents of the household are 60 years or older–see next FAQ below).

If none of the above apply, your household can also establish eligibility if one household member is immediately available for employment, and either:

  • Has a history of full time employment in the last 4 months and expects to be employed;
  • Has successfully completed an educational, vocational, or job training program in the last 6 months; OR
  • Has a job offer for full time employment that begins within 3 months.

All the adults in my household are over 60 years of age, and none of us are employed or expect to be employed. Are we eligible?

Yes, you may be eligible. The work / support criteria are waived for households where all adult members are 60 years of age or older.

Benefits

How is my Arizona Rental Assistance benefit calculated?

Your monthly rent, as set by your rental agreement, less any other public rent benefits you already receive, is multiplied by three to arrive at your total benefit. “Rent” does not include non-rent costs that are separately itemized, such as individually billed utilities. Your benefit is paid as a single lump-sum.

Formula: Benefit Amount = (Monthly Rent - Other Public Rent Benefits, if any) x 3

Your benefit may not exceed $10,500.

How will I receive the assistance?

The assistance will be paid directly to your landlord who will receive a direct deposit into their bank account. If your landlord decides not to register or participate in the Program, you will receive the benefits paid by direct deposit into your account, and you must use this to pay rent to your landlord.

If I receive my Arizona Rental Assistance benefit directly, how can I use my benefit?

Arizona Rental Assistance benefits may only be used for rental arrears, current and future rent, and rent late fees and penalties. Benefits may also only be used for the address that your benefits were approved; you may not apply benefits towards a prior or future lease.

Improper use of funds is a violation of program terms, which will subject you to disqualification from benefits and potential civil and criminal penalties. You will receive more information on benefit use in your application and when you receive your approval.

Will I need to report any funds received from this program as income?

Funds received under this program by a tenant are not counted as income for tax reporting.

It is considered income to the landlord and landlords will be issued a 1099 form for each tax year of participation.

Does this program provide mortgage assistance?

No. Arizona Rental Assistance only provides residential rental assistance. Homeowners who are not landlords and are in need of mortgage and/or utility assistance can contact the Arizona Department of Housing.

Does this program provide utility assistance?

No. Households that need utility assistance may be eligible for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) or Short Term Crisis Services (STCS). You can apply for LIHEAP online at Housing Stability and Utility Assistance Programs website, and STCS through your nearest Community Action Agency.

Does this program provide legal help if I am going through the eviction process?

No. Community Legal Services can help provide legal aid through the eviction process. For more information, please go to the Community Legal Services website or call 1-800-852-9075.

If you believe you are facing possible eviction, and need legal assistance, there are also resources available at the Arizona Eviction Help website.

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