Rent, utility assistance available for Tulsa residents

TULSA, Okla. — Restore Hope Ministries along with the city of Tulsa are helping residents with rent and utility payments.

The Emergency Rental and Utility Assistance Program (ERAP), under guidelines set forth by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, will help landlords and tenants by paying past due rent, utilities (water, gas, and electric) and, in some cases, forward rent for up to three months to ensure housing stability.

“We want to help people and get them to dream again,” said Jeff Jaynes, executive director of Restore Hope Ministries. “We want people to thrive, we want people to succeed and dream. That’s hope.”

Since May 2020, Restore Hope has provided more than $3.9 million in rent and bill payments for 1,600 families (4,110 individuals) in Tulsa County.

“Landlords are hurting too,” Jaynes said. “They have not been able to pay their bills. So, we want to be able to help those landlords as well.”

Applicants can learn more about the program and apply online at erap.restorehope.org.

There will also be events in person coming up at Rayfield Baptist Church in Muskogee and Greater First Baptist Church in Bartlesville.

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