More than 2000 active evictions were halted and nearly 19,000 utility disconnections were stopped or reconnected thanks to KERA. The robust disbursement of program funding has prevented evictions from taking a devastating toll on Kansas communities while keeping families stably housed in uncertain times. Rental assistance was paid directly to housing and service providers, helping landlords cover their operating costs and keep up with essential maintenance and repairs, stimulating the local economy. Federal relief funds provided up to 18 months of temporary emergency rental, utility, and internet assistance for households at risk of homelessness or housing instability. The Kansas Emergency Rental Assistance (KERA) program was established in March 2021 to lessen the financial burdens on renters and landlords impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to KERA, more than 30,000 Kansas families remained safely housed and connected to vital services at the time they needed it most.”

“In the midst of the pandemic, home became so much more than shelter-it became our virtual workplace, classroom, marketplace, gathering space, and more. “Home has never been more important,” said Ryan Vincent, Executive Director of Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC), which administered the KERA program. More than $290 million provided relief for more than 82,000 Kansans and more than 11,000 housing and service providers, preventing evictions and providing vital services to more than 32,000 households.

More than $290 million in rental, utility assistance awardedĪ year and a half after Kansas Emergency Rental Assistance (KERA) launched, the program has closed.

Grants for 911 dispatch centers 2021