Kirkland, WA (February 15, 2023)— The City of Kirkland will allocate $45,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for households and individuals seeking new residential leases in the City of Kirkland. The program is intended to help those facing barriers to obtain stable housing. Grants of up to $1,200 will be distributed on behalf of eligible tenants with payments made directly to the landlord. Landlords are eligible to receive up to 2 grants for the duration of the program. 

Eligible landlords must have a valid Kirkland business license, a copy of the proposed tenant’s income verification documents, and a copy of the proposed lease. Landlords must also attest the following to be eligible: that they will not unlawfully evict the tenant or otherwise be in violation of the Program Agreement, that the unit’s square foot price is offered at the advertised rate, and that the program incentivized them to extend a lease to the tenant. 

Eligible tenants must be seeking a new lease in Kirkland, Washington. Tenants must also have both an annual income at or below 120% of the Area Median Income and a low credit score, previous bankruptcy, previous eviction, or prior criminal conviction. Both the tenants and their landlords that meet the requirements within the boundaries of Kirkland, WA must apply in order to receive the grant funding.

The City of Kirkland has partnered with FORWARD, who will serve as the program administrator to assist with community outreach, application support, screening for eligibility and sending payments in a way that uses taxpayer dollars efficiently. Qualifying tenants and landlords can expect:

• To apply though FORWARD’s online application portal available in 68 languages 
• Access to application support, available in multiple languages via phone, text and email
• Secure payment processing and transfer of funds directly to the landlord via paper check or ACH

“FORWARD continues to support the City of Kirkland’s programming after the resounding success of the ARPA Small Business Relief Program last year,” said Adnan Mahmud, CEO of FORWARD Platform. “The Kirkland Rental Risk Assistance Fund Program is the first of its kind, and through the use of FORWARD’s integrated program administration tool Kirkland residents have equitable opportunities to obtain secure housing as they continue to navigate the financial hardships of the current economic climate.”

Applications for the Kirkland Rental Risk Assistance Fund Program open on February 15, 2023 at 8:00 AM PST. To learn more about the necessary qualifications and to apply visit: https://bit.ly/KirklandRentFund