Dial 2-1-1 or search online to connect to local resources such as help with housing, food, crisis intervention and more.
Cash Assistance
WA COVID-19 Immigrant Relief Fund provides a $1,000 one-time payment and up to $3,000 per household for residents of Washington State who are at least 18 yrs. old and not eligible to receive federal stimulus dollars or unemployment insurance due to immigration status. You must have been significantly affected by the pandemic (losing work, being infected by the virus, or caring for an infected family member). Your information will not be voluntarily shared with the government or ICE, and the public charge rule should not apply for this fund. Apply online or call 1 844 724-3737 Mon-Fri 9am – 9pm for help. Support is available in multiple languages. Closes 12/6.
Disaster Cash Assistance Program provides cash assistance for one month in a 12-month period to Washington families and individuals who meet income and resource rules and who are not eligible other cash programs. Call (877) 501-2233, (where operators have access to interpreters) or apply online at WashingtonConnection.org.
Stimulus Checks for most adults are $1,200 with an additional $500 for every qualifying child age 16 or under. If you are not planning to file a 2018 or 2019 federal tax return and have not received your stimulus payment, fill out the IRS Non-filer tool by 11/21.
Congress has extended Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) for this school year. P-EBT helps low income families with eligible children pay for groceries when schools have reduced or stopped in-person classes due to COVID-19. Our state must submit a new P-EBT plan to USDA, so P-EBT is not yet available. But you can get ready now!
To be eligible for P-EBT, families must complete a new school meal application for this school year. If you need an application or help with it, contact your child’s school. Get it done now, so that when our state’s new P-EBT is ready, your family will be eligible for benefits for the longest period of time. Completing a school meal application or using P-EBT is not subject to public charge and will not affect immigration status.
Applications are also online through your school district’s website: Bellevue School District; Issaquah School District; Lake Washington School District; Mercer Island School District; Northshore School District; Snoqualmie Valley School District
Rental Assistance and Other Emergency Help
There is a statewide eviction moratorium through December 31, 2020. Most residential tenants in Washington state are protected from eviction through at least December 31, 2020, unless a tenant is causing a significant and immediate risk to health, safety, or property and/or engaging in criminal activity on the rental property. Read more about your rights here.
Attain Housing provides eviction prevention and move-in assistance for eligible families with children who live in Kirkland, Bellevue, Redmond, Duvall, Issaquah, Bothell, Woodinville, Kenmore, Sammamish, or Carnation.
Bellevue LifeSpring provides rent assistance to families with children that live in Bellevue.
Catholic Community Services helps with rent assistance and eviction protection and other services. For residents of Bellevue, Redmond, and other EKC cities, call 425 213-1963 ext. 2 on Wednesdays, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm.
Centro Cultural Mexicano provides rent assistance for Redmond and Woodinville residents. Help is available in espanol.
The Housing Justice Project can help eligible tenants pay for up to 6 months of fair-market rent owed to their landlord. Undocumented tenants are eligible. The tenant needs to qualify by income, owe at least one month of rent since March 2020 and the landlord has not received any federal funds for the past due rent. Call 206 267-7069 Monday to Friday 8:00 am – 12:00 pm.
India Association of Western Washington provides rent and utility assistance to Kirkland and Redmond families impacted by COVID. Email emergencyassistance@iaww.org or call 253 234-9989, ext. 3.
City of Issaquah provides up to $500 per month up to three months (within one, 12-month period) to eligible Issaquah residents.
Hopelink helps with short-term financial crises by paying one month’s rent for eligible people. They also help with move-in costs, prescriptions or keeping water or sewer services running.
Jubilee REACH provides financial assistance to help families with school-aged children in Bellevue pay rent, utility bills, rent and basic needs.
King County Eviction Prevention and Rent Assistance Program provides rent assistance for eligible individuals and families throughout King County who have been economically impacted by COVID-19 due to illness, lost wages and unemployment.
King County Veterans Program provides housing stabilization assistance to veterans, servicemembers and their families who live in King County, are behind in rent or mortgage payments, are economically impacted by COVID-19 and meet income eligibility. Call 206 477-7022.
LifeWire provides domestic violence survivors with flexible funds to keep or find housing by stopping evictions and paying for move-in costs, utilities, emergency hotel stays, or other expenses.
Muslim Association of Puget Sound provides rent and utility assistance plus a variety of other services.
St. Vincent de Paul provides help with rent, utilities, food and more. Call the Helpline Center at 206 767-6449 Monday-Friday 8am – 3 pm or fill out the online request help form.
Solid Ground provides rental assistance and other emergency housing resources through 2-1-1.
Washington State Department of Commerce provides up to $1,000 in rental assistance and up to $500 in energy assistance for households that qualify for the federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Check here for where to apply.
Youth Eastside Services provides help with rent assistance and/or housing costs to parents and individuals 24 years of age or younger who are in urgent danger of losing their housing, have multiple life challenges and live in East King County.
Utility Bill Relief
Many cities are providing utility bill relief during the COVID-19 emergency that include flexible payment plans, eliminating late fees, and not disconnecting service for non-payment. Several cities also offer rebates to eligible residents. Check your city’s website and apply for assistance.
City of Bellevue; City of Kirkland; City of Issaquah; City of Mercer Island; City of Redmond; City of Sammamish
Crisis-Affected Customer Assistance Program helps Puget Sound Energy customers who may be unemployed, partially unemployed, or cannot work due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligible customers can receive a one-time credit up to $1,000.
Other Resources
Credit Card Assistance: If you’ve had a loss in pay due to COVID-19 and are struggling to make your credit card or loan payments, contact your credit card company right away. Explain your situation and ask about hardship programs that may be available. This could include waiving fees (ATM, overpayments, late fees) and letting you delay, adjust, or skip some payments. Read more here.
Mortgage Assistance: If you don’t have enough money to cover your mortgage payment, read more here or call toll-free 1 877 746-4334 to get assistance in how best to contact your their mortgage servicer, and to learn more about your options.
Public Transportation: King County and Sound Transit are offering a new annual pass at no cost for customers who have no income or very low income. The effort is focused on serving people enrolled in certain state benefit programs, which makes it easier for eligible customers to apply and streamlines income eligibility review. Read more here about who is eligible and how to apply.
Student Loan Assistance: If you’re having trouble making payments, there may be assistance available to you. The federal government has waived two months of payments and interest for many student loan borrowers. Read more here.