Mississippi Rental Assistance Grant Program will help renters stay in their homes while dealing with job and income losses
JACKSON, Miss. – The Mississippi Development Authority on Oct. 22 began accepting applications for the Mississippi Rental Assistance Grant Program (MRAP). The Mississippi Apartment Association (MAA) and the Mississippi Association of Affordable Housing Providers (MAAHP) encourage landlords with tenants who have fallen behind on rent due to Covid-19 to apply for the program.
MRAP was created by the Mississippi Legislature to help renters and rental properties deal with the economic fallout of Covid-19. The program will cover rent going back to March for tenants who have been unable to pay because they lost their job or have reduced income due to Covid-19. Landlords are eligible for up to $30,000 and must credit grant funds to their tenants’ past due rents. Renters cannot apply directly for this program and should contact their landlords about applying on their behalf. Both small and large landlords can apply for the program.
Landlords should visit www.mississippi.org/mrap to learn more about the program and apply. The application deadline is November 15th.
“Mississippi businesses and residents have been greatly impacted by Covid-19. MRAP will provide much-needed relief to renters and landlords,” said Meghan Elder, MAA Association Executive.
“MRAP is a win-win for renters and landlords: Landlords get to recover unpaid rent and renters can stay safely housed,” said John Sullivan, State and Local Policy Director for Enterprise Community Partners and President of MAAHP. “We encourage landlords to apply as soon as possible.”
Together, MAA and MAAHP represent a significant portion of the rental property owners serving the state’s 350,000 renter households.