TGCDC Prevents Evictions with MO State Assistance for Housing Relief (SAFHR ) Program

The State of Missiouri created the State Assistance for Housing Relief (SAFHR ) to help renters throughout the state stay housed during the Covid-19 pandemic. Over the past 2+ years, they have:

- Distributed nearly $600 million in emergency rental assistance

- Provided funding for 130,000 individual applications

- Prevented 75,000 evictions

Tower Grove Community Development Corporation manages 84 affordable housing units with rents between 30% to 60% of Area Median Income. Many of TGCDC’s tenants work in the service industry and were some of the hardest hit by small business shutdowns. TGCDC’s Asset Manager, Kristan Nickels, led a proactive approach to work with our tenants to ensure they remained in their homes during the pandemic. Over the past 2+ years, Tower Grove CDC has:

-Filed 52 applications to SAFHR on behalf of our tenants

-Was awarded $126,248.00 in rental assistance for our tenants

-Prevented 52 evictions.

With SAFHR rental assistance tenants were not displaced during a worldwide pandemic and were able to afford daily necessities such as food, utilities, and transportation. They were given the safety net needed to find new careers/employment to better their lives. We are grateful for the opportunity to help support our tenants. Below are a few stories from our tenants on how SAFHR funding helped them:

4040a DeTonty- “TB”

Having been in the hospitality industry most of my career, I found that a majority of my professional skills didn’t translate to zoom calls when the pandemic hit. It’s hard to pour a glass of wine for someone when you’re not in the same room. I found myself going through my savings and credit cards. I did receive assistance through unemployment, stimulus, and SNAP, but as the months turned into a year and a half, those benefits started drying up pretty quickly. I needed help paying my rent. I was starting to get some work lined up, but it would be months, if not years before I would get back to where I was pre-pandemic. Tower Grove Community Development Corporation really went to bat to help their tenants apply for and navigate the SAFHR program, gather needed documents, and submit an application. Without the help of SAFHR, I would have been forced to leave my home for almost five years. It was crucial in helping me get back on my feet and relieving the pressure that a lot of us found ourselves under during that time. This program is crucial for middle-American and lower-income families in a disaster such as a worldwide pandemic. I got lucky- I met the criteria and had my property manager in my corner. Not all were so fortunate. These programs need to be accessible to the American public who need them most.

4020 A DeTonty- “TJ”

My back is against the wall because everything is coming at me at once. It’s no secret the COVID-19 pandemic came in and life as we knew it was forever changed. To be honest, before the pandemic I lived paycheck to paycheck like most single mothers. When my daughter’s school went from in-person to online what little money I had to make ends meet no longer was enough. Money for utilities and rent had to be spent on groceries. None of the food pantries were open after 5 PM. I needed to feed my child while she is at home all day when previously she received 2 meals at school. Prior to the pandemic, we didn’t have Wi-Fi .The hot spot her school provided rarely worked so Spectrum was a new bill I had to be paid to continue her education. I am an essential worker who didn’t have the option to work from home. As a result, I had to purchase a cellphone for my daughter so she could reach me while I was at work and hire caregivers to ensure she was safe. Not to mention the stress on the job coupled with some health issues resulted in an increase in medical bills and new prescribed medication. Needless to say, I was overwhelmed financially. Basically, I had to choose between food/utilities or my rent. I was homeless for a short time in my youth and I made a promise to myself never to allow that to happen to me or my children again. I was reluctant to apply for SAFHR rental assistance because I am always getting denied for things because of my income. If I brought home what I made before taxes life would be great. The net pay is not enough to meet every need. My landlord kept sending emails with rental assistance resources. I was so far behind in my rent I just knew she was going to evict me. I get emotional thinking about her kindness and her willingness to assist me through the rental assistance process. Not only did I receive 3 months’ rent I also got help with my utility bills. Oh, what a relief it was to get my rent caught up. As a result, I was able to focus on my health issues. The worry of being without utilities and housing was lifted. I was also able to get my car payments current and most important we had money for food.

3612 Bamberger - “MD”

As a single female living away from my family, when I contracted Covid and ended up in the hospital for 2 weeks, I thought I was going to lose everything. Tower Grove CDC was able to coordinate with other tenants in my building to make sure my puppy was fed, walked, and taken care of while I was hospitalized. Luckily one of the tenants worked for an animal rescue organization and was able to continue helping with my pup after I returned home until I regained my strength. When I returned home the other tenants dropped off meals, offered to pick up my medication, they even took out my trash! Kristan submitted an application to SAFHR for me and I received 5 months of rental assistance while I recovered. I honestly do not know what I would have done without Tower Grove CDC, Kristan, and my amazing neighbors.

While funds for the SAFHR program are now exhausted, TGCDC remains committed to helping and working with our tenants to stay housed.