CASPER – Individuals and families now have somewhere to turn if they’re worried about losing their home due to the loss of a job or income related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wyoming Community Development Authority last week launched the Wyoming Emergency Housing Assistance Program with funds allocated to the state as part of the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. During a special session last month, the Wyoming Legislature approved authorization of $15 million from the state’s $1.25 billion share of CARES Act funding to go toward housing assistance. WCDA has set up a special fund to provide rental and mortgage assistance to families at risk of losing their homes, said Scott Hoversland, executive director of the Casper-based agency.

“It’s one of those things – people are affected and can’t make full rental payments,” he said. “We don’t want them out of their house. There’s been lot of people working from home, so you want that roof over your head.”

Eligible recipients initially can receive one month of emergency rent or mortgage payment assistance to a maximum of $2,000, according to a press release from the agency. Additional payments may be requested from WEHAP monthly upon completion of the appropriate forms, attesting to ongoing need.

Currently, assistance payments can be applied to rent or mortgages for June. Renters or homeowners may also apply for assistance with past-due payments from April and/or May, the release said.

Covered expenses include rent or mortgage payments, security deposits and hazard insurance assistance “to support eligible households to stay in their homes or obtain housing,” according to the release.

To be eligible for assistance through WEHAP, applicants must have lost a job or had their pay reduced due to the coronavirus. People who worked for a business closed due to the pandemic also qualify for WEHAP funds, as do those who have to be absent from work to care for a home-bound child or are under a quarantine order.

Recipients won’t get a free ride, Hoversland said. The WEHAP program will pay 70% of rent or mortgage payments or other qualifying expenses based on a household’s gross monthly income, up to that $2,000 cap. Payments will be made directly to landlords, property owners, mortgage servicers or, in the case of hazard insurance assistance, to the insurance companies. 

WEHAP funds will not be provided in addition to other federal assistance programs. WCDA also provides low-interest mortgage loans and has temporarily stopped requiring payments from borrowers on about 4% of the 15,000 loans it administers state-wide, Hoversland said.

Full information and application forms can be found on the landing page at www.wyomingcda.com. 

The program came about at the direction of Governor Mark Gordon. Having shelter during the ongoing crisis is something Wyomingites shouldn’t have to worry about. And, while many landlords and lenders are working with tenants are borrowers, WEHAP provides another level of security for those who don’t have any protection, Hoversland said.

“The governor wanted to make sure we took care of our residents and they had a roof over their heads,” Hoversland said. “If somebody is renting from somebody who owns a property, for example, they may not have it financed anywhere. They don’t have any protections and (the property owner or landlord) could say, ‘I don’t care you’re not working. Get out.’”