Rent, Utility, and Internet-Access Assistance Offered
(KANSAS CITY, Kan.) — The Kansas Emergency Rental Assistance (KERA) program was launched on March 15th. This state program is accepting applications to provide rent, utility, and internet-access assistance to households experiencing financial hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The KERA program application deadline is May 1st, 2022.
BPU will help in the application process by verifying if the household qualifies for assistance, will review the requirements and documents needed for renters and landlords to apply and will track their application status after the application is submitted.
Customers needing assistance in the application process may call a special dedicated line at 913-573-9123 or e-mail at kera@bpu.com and a BPU KERA advocate will assist them in this detailed application process. Click here for details.
The KERA assistance covers up to 12 months of rent and rental arrears (money past due), up to three months of prospective rent at a time, even if the household does not have rental arrears, and past due residential utility and home energy (electric, gas, water, sewer and trash services), and internet costs.
The KERA program is funded through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021, which provided the state of Kansas nearly $200 million in rental assistance funding. The Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC) serves as the administrator of the majority of these funds through the KERA program.
Those eligible to apply include tenants who rent their home, tenants whose 2020 household income did not exceed 80% of the area’s median income, households where at least one member is experiencing documented financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, or at least one member of the household is uncertain of where they will stay or may become homeless without housing assistance.
To apply for the program, both the tenant and their landlord must apply online via a joint application process. The landlord completes online certification and the tenant submits the online application. The landlord and tenant are then notified when the application is processed. If approved, the landlord and or/service provider receive funds directly from the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC). The landlord and or/service provider than applies assistance to the tenant’s account.
To learn more about the Kansas Emergency Rental Assistance Program, the qualification and application process, visit the KHRC website at https://kshousingcorp.org/emergency-rental-assistance/ or call them at 785-217-2001.
The Process After Application for BPU Customers: When a customer makes an application for these funds from the state of Kansas, they will receive a proof of prequalified application notice back from the state just identifying their application as submitted.
Applicants must notify BPU Customer Service as soon as they receive the email application notice from the state. BPU will allow the customer to receive service for 30 days or more without disconnection while it works with the state of Kansas to gain a better understanding of the KERA’s process and adjust accordingly.
If the customer’s prequalified application is rejected, they must also contact BPU and the utility will advise the customer on making application for other assistance they may qualify for. When BPU customers receive their application notice, they should not only call customer service at 913-573-9190 but also send their notice from the state to docs@bpu.com
BPU customers are encouraged to stay current with their bills to avoid getting too far behind and if anyone has any BPU billing or customer service questions, they can call 913-573-9190 and a utility representative is available to assist.