Inspection Problem Solved
As the months have gone on facing a public health crisis and managing rental properties has been an ongoing challenge. Working with tenants affected by COVID-19 while trying to figure out how to change our operations on the fly has been a priority. One of the more complex problems we faced has been what to do about occupied properties and our normal inspection program?
We knew we could not operate as we always have in the past. The inspection process consisted of scheduling a visit and walking around a tenant's home. Not a safe idea for the tenant or our staff since there is so little way to limit COVID except with distancing and face masks.
We think we have figured it out! Starting this week we introduced our new Virtual Inspection service with a dozen inspections completed with cooperative tenants. Learn more about how we resolved this significant problem in our blog post.
We believe that this is another one of those improvements in business that the pandemic forced upon us! Let us know what you think when you receive your first inspection download.
Marion County Rental Assistance Program
Indianapolis-Marion County announced Wednesday a new $15 to $18 million COVID-19 Rental Assistance Program. The program is a effort funded by federal relief funding Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. and a donation from the Lilly Endowment. The city plans to help 7000 to 11,000 households make up to three months of unpaid rent.
Applicants must be renters in Marion County whose income has been reduced due to the pandemic. Renters who receive other forms of assistance will not qualify.
Renters can apply beginning Monday July 13 at www.IndyRent.org.
This program will be similar to the offering for all Indiana counties except Marion. To review what we know on the Indana program administered by the Indiana Housing & Community Development Authority (IHCDA):
• Provides assistance of up to $500 per month, for 4 months, for households unable to pay all or part of their rent due to a COVID-19 related job loss or income reduction
• Requires landlord’s agreement to participate in program – will not evict for nonpayment until renter is more than 45 days delinquent on rent
• Payments made directly to the landlord
• An estimated 12,000 households could be helped
• Current household income, including unemployment, must be less than household income on March 6, 2020
• Household must not have already received emergency rental assistance as part of COVID-19 response
• Must not already receive rental assistance such as through Section 8 vouchers or USDA assistance
• Applications open on July 13, 2020 at www.IndianaHousingNow.org.
One important note: WILMOTH will not be considering new hardship requests until a tenant has applied for one of these two programs. | 
