Because our selection process is random, we are unable to prioritize case. We know you are going through a stressful time and that you need assistance as soon as possible. Unfortunately, there are a lot of renters who need assistance as soon as possible. Random selection helps us make sure we are treating all renters equitably.

PLEASE do not submit a support form ticket asking us to select you because of your situation. WE WILL NOT RESPOND TO THESE INQUIRES.

If you live in King County, Washington and are behind in rent, complete this Client Intake Form and we will contact you if you are selected to formally apply to receive rent assistance. At that time, we will send you information about the next steps you will have to complete to be considered for eligibility of rental assistance.

Use our Status Checker to see if you have already signed up on the Client Intake Form.

The Client Intake Form and Rental Assistance Application are two separate forms. The Client Intake Form expresses your interest in receiving assistance. The Rental Assistance Application can only be completed if you have been Selected for assistance.

You will need the following information to complete the Client Intake Form:

• Your landlord/property managers name, phone number and email address.
• Basic information about your household such as your address, monthly rent amount, types of income sources and income amount.

If you have been Selected and are completing your Rental Assistance Application, you will also need to provide:

• Income documentation (such as W2s or paystubs) for every Adult (18+) household member.
• Proof of housing instability, such as a rent ledger or a 14/30-Day Notice.
• Proof of residency, such as a utility bill, renter’s insurance policy, or a government-issued ID card with your current address.

Tenants will not be required to provide a Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). There are no citizenship requirements to receive assistance.

You will be contacted by a case manager if you are Selected to complete your Rental Assistance application. Monitor the email address and phone number you provided on your application; check your spam/junk folders.

If Selected, you will receive an two emails with the subjects:

• “Selected to Apply: Rental Assistance Program”
• “Online Connect Access”

Check your email for your Connect Portal Invitation; the subject of the email is “Online Connect Access” and it contains your unique link to the Connect Portal.

Once you have created your account, you can log back in with this link: https://uwkc.socialsolutionsportal.com/login

For more help, use this Connect Portal Guide.

If you need additional help, contact your case manager.

The amount of assistance you receive is determined by what your household owes. Our program is never able to provide more than $10,000 of rental assistance per household and you are only eligible to be selected from our program every two years, even if you move. This is due to limited funding and a high need for help. Assistance can include up to 2 months of future rent, if the renter is eligible.

Your landlord/property manager will need to provide a lease, written documentation of the charges and payments to your rental account (rent ledger) and W-9 for payment processing. Other documentation may be required as needed. This will be resolved by the case manager processing your assistance.

You do not have to contact your landlord/property manager for these documents; that is the responsibility of your case manager.

Once your Rental Assistance Agreement is signed, the case is put under review before payment is processed. Payments are typically issued within 2-3 weeks after approval.

No, rental assistance funds are provided by the federal and/or state government as a grant. They are NOT a loan and do not have to be paid back.

If you are selected for rental assistance and your landlord/property manager refuses to participate or refuses to accept the terms of assistance, we are not able to provide assistance. Our program requires landlords/property owners to participate in order to receive assistance.

We know that communication from your landlord may be scary.  No matter what your landlord says, your landlord CANNOT evict you from your unit without going through a court process (RCW 59.18.290, RCW 59.18.300).  You can find more information about the eviction process, including a timeline, on the Tenants Union website.

Please call the Housing Justice project at (206) 580-0762 right away if you are served with an eviction lawsuit or summons.  

An eviction “lawsuit is made up of two documents served together called the “Summons and Complaint.” They will both have numbers running down the left side of the page and the upper left-hand corner will say your name (defendant) vs. the landlord (plaintiff).”

https://tenantsunion.org/rights/eviction-processThis link will take you away from uwkc.org)

We select households completely at random. There are a lot of people needing rental assistance, so we cannot tell you when you will be selected.

PLEASE do not submit a support form ticket asking when you will be selected or where you are on the list. WE WILL NOT RESPOND TO THESE INQUIRES.

Completing the Intake Form screens your household for eligibility:

• Households must have a CURRENT address in King County, WA
• Households MUST reside and owe back rent at your current address
• Households at risk of homelessness:
  • Households have been notified that your right to occupy current living situation will be terminated within 21 days
  • Households have a missed rent payment and currently owe at least part of a rent payment (current or past)
• Household income must not exceed 80% Area Median Income (AMI) for household size
• Landlord should be willing to participate in the program

If you received an email saying your Intake Form was denied but you meet all of these requirements, please complete a Request to Update Client Intake Form.

Yes! If you have been selected to move forward in the rental assistance process, you can login to your portal here: https://uwkc.socialsolutionsportal.com/login?redirectUrl=/

If you have been selected to move forward in the rental assistance process, you can login to your portal at https://uwkc.socialsolutionsportal.com/login?redirectUrl=/ to update any of your information.

If you have not been selected, you can complete a Request to Update Client Intake Form.

If you are Selected to Apply for rental assistance, your case manager will contact you by phone, text, and/or email.  You will be contacted by one of our trusted community partner agencies: 

• Centro Cultural Mexicano – emails ending in @centroculturalmexicano.org 

• Housing Justice Project – emails ending in @kcba.org 

• Mary’s Place – emails ending in @marysplaceseattle.org 

• Reclaiming our Greatness – emails ending in @reclaimingourgreatness.org 

• ReWA – emails ending in @rewa.org 

• Urban League – emails ending in @urbanleague.org 

• Wellspring Family Services – emails ending in @wellspringfs.org 

When your application was approved, we emailed you a document called the “Payment Agreement Form” or “Tenant Payment Notice.” This document will state which program funding you received.

You must provide a rent ledger (or proof of payments/charges for unit), a lease and a completed W9. Other documents may be requested as needed, such as proof of property ownership, property management agreement, or a VOID Check (for Direct Deposit payments). You will also be required to sign a formal rent assistance offer once your case manager determines the tenant’s assistance amount.

*Note: We cannot accept Deposit Slips or hand-written documentation to validate your direct deposit information.

• Rent Assistance Agreement Form
• Landlord/property manager must agree to the following:
  • Accept the Payment as full satisfaction of any rent balance owed for the Payment Period, including all utilities and fees.
  • Charge no new late fees or additional charges for the Payment Period
  • Not increase the rent for the household for the Payment Period
  • Not evict, terminate or refuse to renew the above household’s tenancy until at least after the Payment Period
  • For full terms and conditions, review the linked document above

As the Landlord, you are required to forgive past due rent that the assistance payment covers, called the “Payment Period” on the Rental Assistance agreement.

You are not required to forgive any rent outside of the “Payment Period” that the assistance does not cover.

The payment standard for each unit is determined by fair market rent under HUD guidelines. This allows the program to stretch its dollars and ensure that the maximum number of tenants and landlords/property managers are served.

Once the Rental Assistance Agreement is signed, the case is put under review before payment is processed. Payments are typically issued within 2-3 weeks after approval.

Email us at rentalpayments@uwkc.org with the Check # or payment amount.

If you have a question regarding submitting your document(s), DocuSign, or the Payment Agreement, contact your case worker directly. If you are actively involved in the assistance process, you have already been contacted by one of our trusted partner agencies:

• Centro Cultural Mexicano – emails ending in @centroculturalmexicano.org
• Housing Justice Project – emails ending in @kcba.org
• Mary’s Place – emails ending in @marysplaceseattle.org
• Reclaiming our Greatness – emails ending in @reclaimingourgreatness.org
• ReWA – emails ending in @rewa.org
• Urban League – emails ending in @urbanleague.org

Wellspring Family Services – emails ending in @wellspringfs.org

All rental assistance funds you receive must be reported to the IRS as income and you will receive a 1099 in the mail next tax season. If you have a question about your 1099, contact us at rentalpayments@uwkc.org.

This program is specifically for rent assistance. For mortgage resources and assistance, visit https://dfi.wa.gov/homeownership.

To update your vendor information, please email rentalpayments@uwkc.org and provide a copy of the following.

• W9, must be dated and signed after January 1, 2023
• The information you need to update. We can change your:
  • Contact information (name, phone, email)
  • Corporate/main address
  • Payment Method (Physical Check or Direct Deposit)
  • Mailing address
  • ACH information, a VOID check or bank letter must be provided (no deposit slips or hand-written information will be accepted)

• If your tenant has not been selected for rent assistance (or selection status is unknown), please have your tenant use our Status Checker tool for updates.
• If the application is in progress, you can reach out to the case manager for an update.
• If you have a question about an incoming payment, please email rentalpayments@uwkc.org and provide the tenant’s name and address. 

We have a Rental Assistance and Eviction Prevention Help poster ready to download and share.

Translated versions are also available.