KENTUCKY — A new website is available for Kentuckians in need of rental assistance. 

On the Healthy at Home Eviction Relief Fund website, announced by Gov. Andy Beshear Tuesday, Kentuckians can apply for the assistance.  

“As we continue to wage this battle against COVID-19, we must make sure renters have a home so they can be Healthy at Home, while also safeguarding landlords against undue financial hardship,” said Beshear. “When we come out of this global health crisis, we don’t want Kentuckians facing such insurmountable debt from their housing situation that they are unable to recover. This program will provide some much-needed relief to eligible tenants and property owners during these unprecedented times.”

The website includes information on how to obtain a portion of the $15 million in federal CARES Act money that Beshear used to support the Healthy at Home Eviction Relief Fund. Details on the fund's uses include:

• Eligible landlords can be reimbursed for missed rent payments and receive some advance to keep tenants in their homes;
• Program pays up to 90 percent of past-due rent and may also cover up to two months of future rent for eligible tenants;
• Payments will be made directly to eligible landlords for approved applications; and 
• Kentuckians may submit applications beginning Tuesday, Sept. 8.

Last week, Beshear updated Kentucky's executive order on evictions to reflect the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's moratorium on evictions through the rest of this year.

Under the moratorium, a tenant who signs and submits a declaration to their landlord about their inability to pay rent can't be evicted. The declaration is required, however. The CDC's order doesn't relieve anyone of the obligation to pay rent or comply with any other obligation under a tenancy, lease, or similar contract. The CDC allows landlords to charge and collect fees, penalties, and interest for failure to pay rent, but prohbits evictions for nonpayment or late payment of such fees, penalities, or interest.

Other programs are in place to help Kentuckians pay rent, such as the Team Kentucky Fund and the Louisville/Jefferson County Eviction Prevention COVID-19 Relief Fund.

The Kentucky Supreme Court issued orders 2020-59 and 2020-64, establishing the Jefferson County Eviction Diversion Pilot Project and the procedure for eviction proceedings in courts. Until the Court issues a new order, these are controlling.

Kentuckians in need of legal assistance can contact the Kentucky COVID-19 Legal Helpline or call toll-free: 833-540-0342.

Lawyers who want to volunteer to provide direct legal assistance to Kentuckians in need can visit Together Lawyers Can.