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St. Louis to close rental assistance applications Monday

A banner hangs advertising rentable apartments on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024, in Grand Center. According to Rent.com, the median asking price for a rental unit rose nearly 18 percent since last year.
Eric Lee
/
St. Louis Public Radio
The City of St. Louis will close applications for its emergency rental assistance program at 8 a.m. Monday due to high demand. More than 4,500 renters have applied for help making back rent payments.

The City of St. Louis will close applications for its emergency rental assistance program at 8 a.m. Monday after less than two weeks because of high demand.

The program made $3.3 million in federal funding available for one-time payments to help cover back rent and prevent eviction. To qualify, residents must make less than 80% of the area median income – about $83,000 for a family of four – and prove that they are facing a challenge that keeps them from paying rent on time.

Since applications opened Dec. 3, the city has received more than 4,500 requests. If everyone who applied receives assistance, they will get less than $750. A recent report found that in 2022, a person could expect to pay on average more than $1,400 a month for a two-bedroom apartment, although the price does vary by neighborhood.

Landlords must agree to accept the payments from the city. Applications are only accepted online.

Rachel is the justice correspondent at St. Louis Public Radio.