Serenity House of Clallam County last week announced changes to the guidelines of the existing Eviction Rent Assistance Program (ERAP), a rent assistance program funded by federal CARES Act dollars designed to help struggling residents who have been past due on rent since March 1.

Changes to the ERAP guidelines are intended increase the pool of renters who are eligible for assistance and increase the amount of assistance ERAP can provide. To be eligible for the ERAP program, renters must make less than 80 percent of the area median income; the program previously capped eligibility to renters making less than 50 percent.

ERAP can now also provide up to six months of rent assistance including past, current, and up to one month of future rent due; previously, the ERAP program capped rent assistance at three months.

The changes come from the Washington State Department of Commerce, the entity that oversees ERAP program funding administration statewide.

Find more information is available at the Serenity House website (serenityhouseclallam.org) and Facebook page (facebook.com/SerenityHouseClallam).

Those needing help with rent assistance can be put in touch with a case manager by calling the Housing Resource Center at 360-565-5041, x1. Young adults of ages 18-24 can also access the ERAP program through the Serenity House Youth Services department by calling 360-809-0385.

Business owners and landlords who would like the Serenity House outreach team to come to their properties to teach employees and tenants about the ERAP program are encouraged to call the Housing Resource Center as well.

Serenity House case managers are conducting weekly outreach to communities across Clallam County including Sequim, Port Angeles and Forks.

Since launching the ERAP program in August, Serenity House has helped more than 142 Clallam County residents stay housed by paying $205,654 in previous, current and future rent. The program is expected to continue through Dec. 31, 2020.