rent & utility assistance

EFA services are available to eligible clients who need help with expenses related to essential HIV medications, eyeglasses (must be directly related to HIV infection), utilities, and emergency short-term housing. These services can only be requested through a medical case manager and are only available when funding is available. The client must be Ryan White certified and must have a legible utility bill or estimate for the cost of the eyeglasses (clients cannot purchase eyeglasses prior to approval). Each client is eligible for up to $500.00 in assistance per grant year depending on the availability of funds and client eligibility.

To apply for EFA, you must contact your Ryan White medical case manager.

This program prevents homelessness by providing individuals or families with assistance for rent, mortgage, and/or utility bills. This program serves counties in Tennessee (Shelby, Tipton, and Fayette), Arkansas (Crittenden), and Mississippi (DeSoto, Tunica, Marshall, and Tate).To ensure rental or mortgage assistance is delivered quickly and securely, our standard payment method is ACH (Automated Clearing House). Unfortunately, if a landlord or mortgage provider is unable to accept ACH payments, we are not able to process the application. We understand this may be disappointing, and we regret any difficulty it may cause. If helpful, you may let your landlord or mortgage provider know that ACH is the required payment method for participation in this program. Eligible clients could apply for up to 21 weeks (about 5 months) of assistance during a 52-week period. All applicants must be on the lease or be the account holder of the mortgage. Month-to-month or expired leases are not accepted. Clients must be the account holder of the utility bill unless the applicant can provide proof such as a bank statement to show that they are responsible for paying the utility bill. Tennessee residents must be in a cut-off status to apply for utility assistance, but Mississippi and Arkansas residents do not. STRMU assistance cannot provide rent or utility assistance to clients that are receiving housing assistance through another program. All applicants must provide the following items:

1. copies of IDs and social security cards for everyone living in their household

2. lease or mortgage statement

3. Documentation of all household income for all household members

4. Legible utility bill, and proof of medical status (Copy of the confirmatory test results or letter from a physician). To use this program voucher, applicants must be able to meet landlord requirements and have landlord approval for the unit.