Rent & Utility Relief for Riverside County
The closing of the portal marks a transition, not an end, to the support that United Lift will provide residents. We know that a housing crisis existed in our region long before the pandemic. We will reconvene in the fall of 2022 to develop a collaborative eviction protection resource focused on eviction reduction, tenants’ rights, and more.
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How does United Lift work?
Tap the steps below to learn more about each one.
This program is open to anyone with any immigration status. Households must meet all of the following criteria to qualify for assistance:
- Renters and landlords only;
- At least one individual in the household has experienced financial hardship during or due to the COVID-19 pandemic (March 2020 to present). Full details available in the FAQs on our Resources page;
- At least one individual in the household demonstrates housing instability (for example, because of unpaid rent). Households with unpaid rent are prioritized in review. Applications requesting only future assistance are not prioritized in review.
- Household income level is at or below 80% of the area median income
Please provide the following to start your application. If you are missing documentation, we will partner with you on possible alternatives:
- Any VALID form of government-issued identification (for example, driver’s license, resident card, or passport from any country);
- Signed copy of lease agreement or landlord’s contact information;
- Documentation of financial hardship during or due to the COVID-19 pandemic
- Documentation of household’s 2021 total income (note, you must provide income documentation for all income earners in the household)
- Any utility bill (if requesting utility aid).
Note, we may ask for additional information/documentation throughout your application process.
Once you have gathered the initial documentation, you may apply through our online application portal below or, in some regions, in person. To apply in person, please click here.
ATTENTION TENANTS & LANDLORDS: The intentional request for and/or acceptance of duplicated rental/utility assistance benefits is considered fraud. All suspected cases of rental/utility assistance fraud will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Treasury and the Office of the Inspector General (OIG).
Apply Now
If you have everything you need, then you can start your application now.
United Lift reviews most applications in the order in which they are received. Review typically begins within one to three months after the application is submitted. We understand this can be a significant wait time during a difficult period in your life. Rest assured, the program can cover any additional rental and utility payments that might accumulate during the wait period.
After applying, you’ll receive automated emails with updates on your status. You may also check your status at any time by choosing your city or community in the application status portal and logging in with the email address provided in your application. It is important to choose the correct city or community because the county is served by two separate organizations–Lift to Rise and Inland SoCal United Way.
Applications will be processed on a rolling basis and review periods are dependent on the number of applications received. Generally, it can take one to three months for staff to begin reviewing each application. Once the application is under review, it takes about 10 days to process, assuming the applicant provides any additional requested documentation in a timely manner.
If approved, United Lift will send payments directly to the landlord and/or utility provider.
All suspected cases of rental and/or utility assistance fraud will be submitted to the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Office of the Inspector General (OIG). The intentional request for and/or acceptance of duplicated assistance benefits is considered fraud.
Both tenants and landlords can appeal an application decision anytime, including after the application portal closes on July 29, 2022. For instructions on how to submit an appeal, visit our Resources page.
If you disagree with your application decision, you can submit an appeal to Riverside County. The County will inspect and research all submitted income documents, tenant and landlord documents, as well as communications. If Riverside County agrees to provide the application an additional opportunity for review, United Lift will reopen the existing application for further consideration.
What is United Lift?
The United Lift Rental & Utility Assistance Program is a coordinated effort between Riverside County, Inland SoCal United Way and Lift To Rise to support Riverside County families and residents financially impacted by COVID-19 through direct rental and utility assistance. Funding for the program has been provided by various federal and local sources.
FAQs
Have questions about the United Lift program? Check out our most frequently asked questions, and review the full list of FAQs here.
United Lift can cover up to 18 months of missed rent and utility payments, including those that may accumulate while awaiting an application decision. United Lift will consider missed payments accrued during the application wait period for inclusion in your final funding request.
- If you applied after April 1, 2020 and received 18 months of assistance, you cannot reapply.
- If you applied at any time and did NOT receive assistance because you were ineligible, you can reapply if your circumstances have changed and you are now eligible.
Please only submit ONE application at a time per household. If you submit more than one application, you will automatically lose your place in our review process and move to the end of the line.
Note, first time applicants will receive priority review over previously funded applicants.
Federal guidelines require that assistance be prioritized for households with incomes less than 50% of area median income and households with one or more adults that have not been employed during the 90 days prior to submitting their application.
Households with unpaid rent are prioritized in review. Applications requesting only future assistance are not prioritized in review.
There are two ways you can appeal the decision on your application:
- Use the “Submit Feedback” tool on our contact page and select “Appeal Decision” from the drop-down menu
- Email all of the following information to Riverside County at unitedliftcomplaints@rivco.org
- Your first and last name;
- The response identification number for your rental assistance application;
- The name of the organization that processed your application; and
- The final decision the organization provided, as well as your reason to appeal that decision.
