LAFAYETTE – On Friday, a statewide moratorium on rental evictions and utility shutoffs put in to place by Gov. Eric Holcomb at the start of the coronavirus pandemic expired.
The next day, Aug. 15, the moratorium on mortgage foreclosures expired.
What does this mean? For starters, people who have not been keeping up with their bills may start to see responsive actions being taken.
Indiana's moratorium on evictions and utility cutoffs has been in place since March, when Holcomb issued an executive order in response to the pandemic. It was extended from an original expiration date at the end of June to Aug. 14, and has not yet been renewed.
Under Indiana state law, utilities are required to provide customers 14 days notice before disconnecting service. On Wednesday, an IURC spokeswoman sent IndyStar guidance suggesting that, because of that requirement, the utilities could not begin disconnections for two more weeks.
But it's not clear whether this was a hard and fast rule. Some utilities told IndyStar they sent notices during the moratorium, allowing them to begin disconnections almost immediately. Vectren, Indianapolis Power & Light and Northern Indiana Public Service Company said shut-offs could begin Monday.
Meanwhile, some utilities, such as Duke Energy and Citizens Energy Group, have said they will not disconnect service to past-due customers until September.
Jennifer Layton, the president and CEO of LTHC Homeless Services in Lafayette, said LTHC is preparing for some of the people who are evicted as a result of the moratorium’s expiration to become homeless.
Currently, there are more than 300 people experiencing homelessness and who do not have enough housing resources in the Lafayette area, Layton said, and an increase will “exacerbate an already horrible housing crisis.”
“We are encouraging tenants and landlords to mediate and come up with a repayment plan for rent arrears,” Layton said.
United Way of Greater Lafayette
In June, United Way of Greater Lafayette established a Tippecanoe COVID-19 Housing and Stability Hotline, a community collaboration between public and private organizations, United Way, the Community Foundation of Greater Lafayette and the city of Lafayette, to connect people seeking assistance with the right organizations and services.
The hotline is active and is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. It can be reached through calling or texting 765-201-0668.
In addition to calling, people can also complete an online form by visiting https://ift.tt/2Y4BrH9.
The partner organizations with United Way are:
- Area IV Agency on Aging and Community Action Programs
- Bauer Family Resources
- Fairfield Township Trustees
- Food Finders Food Bank
- HomesteadCS
- Indiana Legal Services, Inc.
- Lafayette Urban Ministry
- Legal Aid of Tippecanoe County
- LTHC Homeless Services
- Mental Health America Wabash Valley region
- Northend Community Center Care team
- The Salvation Army
- Tippecanoe Senior Center
- Wabash Center
- Wabash Valley Volunteer Attorneys
- Willowstone Family Services
- YWCA Greater Lafayette
United Way CEO Michael Budd said the hotline has served over 500 people since it started in June, and around 350 people were referred to local organizations.
Budd said the most common requests were for rent, utility and mortgage assistance, and the hotline has received even more calls about utility assistance since the moratorium expired.
"It's hard to get a solid handle on how big this issue is going to be," Budd said. "We're trying to be prepared as a support system as people start to face evictions and the reality that they have to address their mortgage and utility bills."
State assistance
Assistance is also available through Indiana’s COVID-19 Rental Assistance Program, which will provide up to $500 in assistance for four months.
In order to be eligible, renters must meet the following guidelines:
- Have lost their job or part of their income due to COVID-19.
- Have a current household income, including unemployment, that is less than the household income on March 6.
- Have not received rental assistance from another source.
Applications for the state’s program can be filled out at https://ift.tt/31fp90P
City of Lafayette
The city of Lafayette’s Utility Billing Office can also help with an extension for monthly utility payments, according to a city release. Questions concerning eligibility can be answered by emailing ubquestions@lafayette.in.gov, or by calling 765-807-1100 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Lafayette Housing Authority
Lafayette Housing Authority is offering a $500 incentive to landlords for each tenant that enters into a repayment agreement. This payment cannot be used toward rent for the tenant and serves simply as an incentive for the landlord.
Lafayette Housing Authority was awarded administrative money through the CARES Act funding, Kelli Smith, deputy director said, and will be using the money for the landlord incentive program.
Smith said Lafayette Housing Authority is looking to provide up to $75,000 in incentives to landlords.
Contributing: IndyStar. Emily DeLetter is a news reporter for the Journal & Courier. Contact her at (765) 201-8515 or via email at edeletter@jconline.com. Follow her on Twitter at @EmilyDeLetter.
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Coronavirus: Greater Lafayette resources for rent, utility assistance after expiration of statewide moratorium - Journal & Courier
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