RAMP-ERA FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
These FAQs are intended to be a quick-access reference point for common questions, not a substitute for the Mississippi Emergency Rental Assistance Program guidelines or applicable law.
General
Are landlords eligible to apply for assistance?
Yes, Landlords may initiate an application on behalf of their tenants. After a landlord begins an application, the tenant will receive an email with instructions on completing the application. The tenant must complete the tenant portion of the application in order for the request for assistance to be complete and considered.
What is the deadline to apply?
Initial applications will no longer be accepted after August 15, 2022. Recertification applications will no longer be accepted after September 29, 2022.
What costs qualify for assistance under the program?
Financial assistance under the program may be provided to eligible households for expenses related to current and past-due rent and/or current and past-due utilities and home energy costs.
What if I need help completing the application or have questions?
You can call the call center at Local: 601-533-8401 or Toll-Free: 1-888-725-0063
How will I be notified if I am awarded assistance?
Award decisions will be announced via email. Please ensure the email address you provide in your application is entered correctly and that you check it regularly.
If my application is not approved, will I be able to know the reason?
Yes, the notification email on application decisions will tell you the reason(s) your application was not approved.
If I receive rental assistance through this program, can I still be evicted?
If your landlord accepts payments from the Program, the landlord has agreed not to evict you for a period of time (from 90 days of receipt of the last payment from the Program), unless for certain, limited reasons, such as criminal activity.
My landlord is planning to evict me. What should I do?
Tenants should inform their landlord of the Program and direct the landlord to ms-ramp.com for information and eligibility requirements.
How will I receive my funds?
Financial assistance will be provided directly to the landlord or utility provider, unless the landlord or utility provider refuses to participate in the program. In those circumstances, payment will be made to the tenant.
Do I have to repay these funds?
No, unless it is determined the information contained within the application was false, fraudulent, or materially misleading.
How will I know if my landlord or utility provider has received payment?
You will receive confirmation of payment from the program
Documentation
If I have amended or extended my lease, do I need to include the original lease and the amendment or extension, as applicable?
Yes. The original lease, and any relevant amendments or extensions thereto, should be provided.
What if I do not have all necessary documentation?
In order to be considered for the grant, you must submit all required documents.
What documents do I need to have when I apply?
There is a list of required documents here.
I submitted my application, but now I want to make a change to my application and/or upload an additional document. Can I do that?
Changes may not be made to an application if the application has been submitted and review has not started. However, after you submit your application, you may upload additional documentation under “Check my Status.” If you need to correct an error or reapply for the Program, call local (601-533-8401) or toll free (1-888-725-0063), and you will be directed to someone who can help you.
Eligibility
Am I eligible if I am receiving unemployment?
Yes, if you or a member of your household has qualified for unemployment benefits since March 13, 2020, and can provide documentation of such qualification from the Mississippi Department of Employment or other state unemployment benefits agency.
Do tenants with month-to-month leases qualify?
A month-to-month lease is acceptable if the applicant provides documentation that evidences there is a lease agreement in effect and the amount of monthly rent.
Do tenants that rent a room within a residence qualify?
Yes, so long as there is a valid lease agreement and all other eligibility requirements are met.
Am I eligible if I no longer reside in the rental unit for which rent is owed?
No, you must currently reside in the unit for which rent is requested.
Did I have to live in my current home on March 13, 2020 in order to be eligible?
No, but you must reside there at the time of application.
What months of past due rent and/or utilities may be paid with this Program?
Past due rent or utilities incurred on or after March 13, 2020, may be paid with Program funds.
Do the months in which a tenant claims past due rent need to be consecutive?
No. An applicant may apply for any past due assistance for any months within the March 13, 2020 to the application date timeframe.
If I lease from a family member am I still eligible?
An applicant may be eligible where one of the household members is a relative of the landlord only if (1) the landlord does not live in the same residence as the applicant; (2) the applicant is able to provide documentation of past payment of rent; and (3) all other requirements are met. “Relative” includes children, parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, and uncles, including step- and in-laws.
If I have received other COVID-19 related relief, am I eligible to apply?
A tenant may still apply for the program if he or she received money from other COVID-19-related relief programs; however, a tenant may not apply for or receive funding from any other source (federal, state, or private) for the rent or utility assistance requested in his or her program application.
How long will assistance be provided?
Assistance may be provided for a total of up to 12 months (or 15 months when necessary to ensure housing stability, subject to funding availability).
May I receive assistance for rent going forward?
Yes, for up to three months, unless the applicant re-applies and MHC has no funds remaining. All past rent owed must be paid first before rent assistance can be provided going forward.
What if I already receive rental or utility assistance through another program?
Emergency rental assistance or utility assistance provided to a household cannot be duplicative of any other federally-funded rental assistance provided to such household.
My income has been determined by another state or federal program (e.g., TANF). What documentation do I need to provide regarding my income?
Documentation of qualification for the other program will be sufficient.
I own my home. May I apply for assistance for my mortgage payments or utility expenses?
No. This program only allows assistance to be provided to eligible households who are renters.
Are late fees eligible?
RAMP may award late fees only if they are considered reasonable.
Are households living in manufactured housing eligible?
Yes, if otherwise eligible. Rental payments for either the manufactured home and/or the parcel of land the manufactured home occupies are eligible for financial assistance.
If I receive HUD rental assistance, am I eligible to apply?
If HUD does not cover the entire rent amount and the tenant has a payment obligation, then the tenant should apply if they meet other requirements.
I have applied for HUD assistance, but I have not received a determination yet. May I still apply for Program assistance?
Yes. Please include this information in your application.
Are rent-to-own households eligible?
Yes, as long as: (1) no member of the household is a signor or co-signor to the mortgage; (2) no member of the household holds the deed or title to the property; and (3) no member of the household has exercised the option to purchase the property.
Application
What information do I need to apply?
Generally, the applicant must always provide the following:
1. Address of the rental unit
2. Name, address, SSN, and Tax ID number for landlord and utility provider (if requesting utility assistance)
3. Rental amount owed per month
4. Utility and home energy costs owed and the amount sought here
5. Amount of outstanding rental arrears (if any)
6. Number of months of rental payments and/or utility or home energy costs sought
7. Household income and number of individuals in the household
8. Gender, race, and ethnicity of the applicant
Other information may be necessary depending on the specific circumstances of the household.
Can I submit my application via mail or email?
No. At this time, the Program is only accepting applications through ms-ramp.com, but please contact (Local: 601-533-8401 or Toll-Free: 1-888-725-0063) if you need assistance.
Are accommodations available for disabled applicants?
Yes, upon request, reasonable accommodations will be made available to permit disabled individuals to fully participate in the process.
Can I monitor the status of my application?
Yes. You may enter your login information on the application website to check the status of your application.
Once I complete my application, how soon will I know if I am approved?
You will be notified following a full review of your application and accompanying documentation. Timing may vary depending on the participation of your landlord and/or utility provider and on the volume of applications.
Are certain applications prioritized?
Yes. The Program provides priority to households with incomes less than 50% of area median income or households with at last one individual who has been unemployed the for the 90-day period preceding the date of the application.
If I am submitting forms with my application, how do I sign the forms?
Currently, there is no electronic signature capability for the forms. Applicants are required to print the forms, sign as indicated, and upload the documents.
Utilities
If I don’t need help making rent payments, may I still apply for help with utilities?
Yes, if you meet the Program eligibility requirements.
Will the Program pay for all of my past due rent or utilities?
The Program will provide assistance for up 15 months and will not provide payments for past due rent or utility costs incurred prior to March 13, 2020.
What documentation do I need to provide if requesting utility assistance?
A copy of a bill or invoice for each utility provider showing the name and address of the provider, the name and address of the customer, the account number and the servicer dates.
What is considered a utility?
Electricity, gas, water and sewer, trash removal, and energy costs, such as fuel oil.
Landlords
If I am a landlord or property owner and start an application on behalf of a tenant, do I have to involve the tenant in the application process?
Yes. After a landlord submits an application, the tenant will receive an email with instructions on completing the application. The tenant must complete the tenant portion of the application in order for the request for assistance to be complete and considered.
If I am a landlord applying on behalf of multiple tenants, should I prioritize the applicants based upon their income levels or unemployment status?
Landlords can register as many tenants as they believe meet the eligibility requirements. The Program will prioritize applications as required by the Act.
Are tenants required to submit a W-9?
No, this is strictly a landlord requirement.
My tenant currently lives in my rental unit; however, I believe he may be moving out soon. Is this tenant still eligible?
Yes, if the application is submitted while the tenant resides in the unit. If the landlord and/or tenant do not anticipate that the tenant will continue to reside in the unit, the tenant should not apply for future rent.
If my tenant moved without providing notification, can I still apply?
No, the Program requires that the tenant currently reside at the property.
If I have evicted and/or undertaken eviction proceedings/actions against a Tenant pursuant to the Lease for which an application could otherwise be made under this Program, am I disqualified?
If you have instituted eviction proceedings but have terminated those proceedings prior to submitting an application, then you may still apply.
What if my tenants don’t have the capability to complete the application (i.e., no internet or computer access)?
The Program application is electronic; therefore, no paper applications will be accepted. Applicants should explore all available options with regard to application access and submission; however, if this is not a viable option, applicants should call 1-888-725-0063 and request to be connected with an Application Access Specialist who will reach out directly to the applicant to provide assistance.