Maricopa County provides rent, utility aid with eviction moratorium over

PHOENIX – The COVID-19 pandemic eviction moratorium has ended but there are other options for those in need of assistance with rent and utility bills.

Maricopa County still has tens of millions of federal relief dollars to give out in the next year for those who need help. An application can be found online.

Phoenix, Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa and Glendale operate their own rental and utility assistance programs, and residents there should apply through the cities. The Maricopa County program is for residents in any other city and unincorporated areas.

Maricopa County Human Services Director Bruce Liggett says those in need of assistance should have all their documents ready when applying for aid.

“We need to know the income of every adult in the household and we also need to have the landlord information,” Liggett said.

“You have your past-due notices for utilities or landlords. You have your landlord agreement and the contact information.”

The Department of Human Services office will reach out to help those who have already started an application to finish applying.

“We’ve got over 4,800 people who have started the application process in Maricopa County but haven’t finished it,” Liggett said.

“We’re working with an agency called Solari, and they’ve agreed to reach out to people who started the application process.”

Liggett says new requirements are making the process take longer.

“We’re finding that these cases, because of the increased federal requirements for documentation, copies of leases, information from landlords to be able to make a payment, is taking twice as long as it used to per case.”

It also depends on the level of need as people with the lowest income have priority.

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