Rental Arrears Assistance Program

Young family sitting on the floor holding the frame of a roof over their heads smiling.

Johnson County Aging & Human Services is administering a new Rental Arrears Assistance Program funded by HUD's HOME-ARP grant. This program is designed to help eligible Johnson County residents at risk of homelessness remain in their current rental units.

Financial assistance is available for up to six months of past-due rent, not exceeding $5,000, paid directly to landlords. The goal of AHS's Rental Arrears Assistance Program is to stabilize housing, prevent eviction, and connect households to additional wraparound services.

Applications will be accepted monthly through an online portal. All applicants must apply online, upload supporting documentation, and participate in short-term case management with Human Services staff. Appointments are limited each month. Completed applications will be processed in the order received. To avoid delays, please prepare in advance by having all of your documents ready for upload when the portal opens. 

Program Eligibility

Who can apply for rental arrears assistance? To qualify, you must:

  • Live in Johnson County, Kansas.
  • Have a current lease or rental agreement in your name. Rental arrears assistance is available for current residences, not former addresses. 
  • Be a citizen or national of the United States or be a noncitizen who has an eligible immigration status.
  • Be willing to participate in short-term case management, such as goal setting, with a Human Services Specialist.
  • Meet one of the qualifying population criteria and provide supporting documentation.
  • Lack the resources or support networks (such as family, friends, faith-based, or other social service agencies) to stay housed.
  • Owe no more than $5,000 at the time of the application or six months of past-due rent at your current residence.
  • Have a landlord or property manager willing to participate in the program by submitting documents and accepting a payment at a later date.
  • Not receive other federal housing assistance (such as Section 8, rapid rehousing, or other subsidized housing).
  • Not working with another agency using HUD's HOME-ARP funding.

Frequently Asked Questions

Applicants must meet at least one of these subpopulations identified by HUD and have documentation to support the claim.:

  • At imminent risk of homelessness within 14 days, with no place to go.
    • Documentation required:
      • Court eviction documentation or equivalent notice
  • At risk of homelessness with income at or below 30% AMI, no support network, and a written notice that housing will end within 21 days.
    • Documentation required:
      • Wage statements, pay stubs, unemployment compensation, public benefits statement.
      • Notice of termination of employment or unemployment compensation statement, healthcare bill showing arrears (if applicable)
      • AND Eviction notice or notification of employment termination 
  • At risk of homelessness with income at or below 30% AMI, no support network and living in overcrowded housing.
    • Documentation required:
      • ​​​​​​​Wage statements, pay stubs, unemployment compensation, public benefits statement.
      • AND Copy of current, signed lease with unit size and number or people in unit
  • Facing imminent harm from domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking in the past 12 months.
    • ​​​​​​​Documentation required:
      • ​​​​​​​Police report or court report/record
      • OR Written certification by a victim service provider (such as Safehome or Rose Brooks Center)
  • Previously homeless, received housing assistance, and now at risk of losing housing again.
    • ​​​​​​​Documentation required:
      • ​​​​​​​A dated, signed written observation describing the conditions where the individual or family was living by a professional social service provider or police officer OR a written, dated and signed referral by another housing or service provider OR records from HMIS (software) demonstrating prior enrollment in a homeless services program 
      • AND Written, dated, and signed verification that a household received time-limited assistance and the dates that assistance will end/has ended OR records from HMIS (software) demonstrating enrollment in a temporary or emergency assistance program that will end/has ended
      • AND Dated and signed written verification or assessment by a professional social services agency completed showing services or housing assistance are needed to prevent return to homelessness
  • Paying more than 50% of monthly income toward rent, with income at or below 30% AMI.
    • ​​​​​​​Documentation required:
      • ​​​​​​​Wage statements, pay stubs, unemployment compensation, public benefits statement, or bank statement
      • AND Current lease with rent amounts 
      • Note: Housing costs must be at least 50% of annual income
  • Living in overcrowded housing with income at or below 50% AMI.
    • ​​​​​​​Copy of current, signed lease with unit size and number or people in unit
    • AND Wage statements, pay stubs, unemployment compensation, public benefits statement.
  • Received written notice that housing will end within 21 days, with income at or below 50% AMI.
    • ​​​​​​​Documentation required:
      • ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Wage statements, pay stubs, unemployment compensation, public benefits statement or bank statement
      • AND Eviction notices, notification of employment termination

The portal will open on the second day of each month at 9 a.m. If the second falls on a weekend or holiday, the application portal will open the following business day.

2025 Schedule:

  • Monday, Nov. 3, 2025
  • Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025

2026 Schedule:

  • Friday, Jan. 2, 2026
  • Monday, Feb. 2, 2026
  • Monday, March 2, 2026

The portal will close once capacity is reached. The portal will not reopen until the following month. 

Upon submitting your application and supporting documentation, you will receive an email confirming your submission from the application portal.

Applications are reviewed in the order received. Incomplete applications will not move forward in the review process. Due to capacity, a limited number of appointments are available each month. 

 

Covered:

  • Up to six months of past-due rent not to exceed $5,000 at the time of the application on a current lease or rental agreement
  • Late fees (Note: The applicant may be responsible for any incurred late fees during the application process.)
  • Required fees written in the lease (such as utilities, trash, pest control, cable, internet, gym, etc.)
  • Insurance fees (if required in the lease)

Not Covered:

  • Optional amenity fees (such as garage, carport, pet, storage, etc.)
  • Returned check fees
  • Court fees
  • Insurance fees (unless specified in the lease)
  • Utilities (unless specified in the lease)
  • Cable and internet (if not required in the lease)

No, the Aging and Human Services' Rental Arrears Assistance program assists with past-due rent at your current residence. 

This program does not include future rent or past due rent owed at a previous address.

Yes. If your landlord or property manager does not submit the required paperwork and sign the agreement within a specified date, your application cannot move forward.

Yes. Each applicant must create their own account in the online portal with a current email address that can receive messages. Most communication during the application process will be through email or the online portal. 

AHS staff can email a worksheet checklist to help you gather the required documents before the portal opens. 

Johnson County is committed to accessibility for individuals with disabilities and to ensuring equal access to its programs and services. Reasonable accommodations are available upon request. To request an ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) accommodation, please call 913-715-8926 at least two business days in advance of the program or service you plan to access.

 

Free Wi-Fi, internet and public computers are available at all Johnson County and Olathe Library locations. 

Additionally, a public computer is available in the lobby of the North Central Multi-Service Center (12425 W. 87th Street Parkway, Lenexa, KS) for residents to use when applying online. 

Housing Authorities

Johnson County Housing Authority administers the Housing Choice Voucher Program (formerly called Section 8) across Johnson County – excluding the City of Olathe. The Housing Choice Voucher Program Waiting List is currently closed.

Olathe Housing Authority provides subsidized housing in Olathe.

Rent Assistance

Catholic Charities (Olathe) Family Support Center features a food pantry that is staffed by case managers who assess, plan, and advocate for services available through Catholic Charities programs. These programs include housing assistance, pregnancy counseling, financial education and employment assistance. All appointments for rent and utility assistance are made by phone. 913-782-4077.

Catholic Charities (Overland Park) Family Support Center features a food pantry that is staffed by case managers who assess, plan, and advocate for services available through Catholic Charities programs. These programs include housing assistance, pregnancy counseling, financial education and employment assistance. All appointments for rent and utility assistance are made by phone. 913-384-6608.

Metro Lutheran Ministry provides emergency funding for rent or utilities to help residents weather a temporary crisis and prevent homelessness. Applications open online at 9 a.m. on the 15th of the month or the following Monday, if the 15th falls on a weekend.

Resources

HUD Income Guidelines

How to Apply for Rental Arrears Assistance

Qualified applicants must apply online through the AHS Rental Arrears Assistance portal and upload all required documentation. Applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis and will not be placed in the approval queue until all required documents are uploaded.

Before You Apply

  • Review the program qualifications carefully.
  • Gather all required documents:
    • Photo IDs for each household member (ages 18+)
      • IDs must be current and identifiable
      • Accepted forms include driver's license, passport, military ID, state ID, or government ID
    • 60 days of income verification for each household member (ages 18+)
      • Accepted documentation include: paycheck stubs, PDFs of bank statements, PDFs of child support or unemployment verification and PDFs pay app statements (such as Cash-App or Venmo). No screenshots will be accepted.
      • Submit documentation for all household members. 
    • A signed, current copy of your full lease or rental agreement in your name 
      • Lease must be signed by the applicant and the landlord or property manager
        • Lease must be current.
    • An eviction notice, 3-Day Notice, or Notice to Quit (if applicable)

Step 1: Start Your Application

  1. Upon entering the online portal homepage, click Apply Here at the bottom of the page.
  2. If you meet the qualifications, click Start Your Application.
  3. Complete the screening questionnaire (answer all questions) and click Continue.

Step 2: Create an Account

  1. If you pass the initial screening, you will be prompted to create an account. All applicants must create an account using an active email address.
  2. After entering your information, check your email (including your spam/junk folders) for an email titled Password Reset.
  3. Click the link in the email to confirm your account and reset your password.

Step 3: Log In

  1. Return to the portal homepage.
  2. Log in with your email address and new password.
  3. On the right-hand side, click Start Application.

Step 4: Upload Required Documents

  • Upload all required documents (photo IDs and 60 days of income verification for all adult members of the household ages 18+, and your current, signed, full lease/rental agreement in your name).
  • Important: Your application will not be reviewed or placed in the approval queue until these documents are uploaded. 

Step 5: Complete and Submit Your Application

  • Fill out the remaining application fields (some will pre-populate from your account setup).
  • Click Submit.

After Submission

  • If you qualify and provide the initial documentation, a program representative will contact you to:
    • Request additional documentation to verify your at-risk status for homelessness.
    • Email you additional forms through Adobe Sign to complete and sign online. 
    • Reach out to your landlord for their supplemental documentation.

Step 6: Appointment and payment

Once all required documentation from the applicant and landlord has been collected and verified:

  • An in-person appointment will be scheduled with a Human Services Specialist at one of our four offices.
  • During the appointment, the applicant will:
    • Review their current budget
    • Discuss short-term goals
    • Identify current barriers
    • Plan next steps with the Specialist
  • The Human Services Specialist will follow up with all Rental Arrears Assistance recipients at 30, 60 and 90 days to review progress, update goals, and discuss any ongoing barriers. At 90 days, recipients will also receive a survey to track outcomes.
  • Payments will be made directly to the landlord or property manager after the initial in-person appointment.
  • Please allow up to four weeks for the payment to be issued.

Apply for Rental Arrears Assistance

The AHS Rental Arrears Assistance Portal opens once a month. Please have all required documentation ready when applying online. Incomplete applications with missing required documentation will not be processed. 

Contact Us

913-715-8926 | AHS-rent@jocogov.org

Aging and Human Services Rental Arrears Assistance Program