Come Current with Your Rent – Lease Enforcement Freeze Ends Dec. 31, 2021

Last Updated: December 2, 2021
Published: April 28, 2021

Help Us to Help You

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many RRHA families have not consistently paid their rent. RRHA provides housing to nearly 4,000 public housing families. Of those, more than 1,000 households were behind on rent in 2021.

If you are behind on your rent, you’re not alone. RRHA can help you get back on track. Call or visit your property management office today.

Why It’s Crucial to Catch up on Your Rent

Paying rent means staying housed, establishing a good rental history and credit score, and creating a secure future for you and your family.

Lease enforcement begins again in January 2022.

We understand that the pandemic has had a debilitating impact on many in our communities. RRHA has not performed any lease enforcement for nonpayment since November 2019.

Looking ahead, our goal is to ensure that our families are in the best possible position when the lease enforcement freeze on unpaid rent ends on December 31, 2021. It’s up to you to use this time so that you are not subject to lease enforcement action and, most importantly, can stay housed.

We want to avoid taking any legal action. However, for RRHA to continue to provide safe and decent housing for our families, we must have the funds to do so. Paying your rent is a responsibility and obligation that makes our partnership work.

“This is serious…Don’t think that because the eviction moratorium has been extended that it will be extended again…”

KISS FM’s Miss Community Clovia

Nonpayment can disqualify you from a Section 8 voucher.

The Housing Choice Voucher Program allows low-income families to live in specific properties or privately-owned homes with subsidized rent.

To qualify for a voucher, federal HUD regulations require you to be current on your rent. If you are selected off an HCVP waitlist but owe rent, you will not be able to claim the voucher.

We want to make sure that as many of our families as possible are eligible for this high-demand program.

Being behind on rent can negatively impact your rental history.

If you move and have not paid all the rent that you owe, you will not be eligible for public housing in another jurisdiction. All public housing authorities must enforce this federal regulation and deny any applicant who owes rent to another housing authority.

Nonpayment can also impact your ability to rent outside of public housing. If a potential landlord calls, RRHA can’t give a positive reference for a former tenant who owes money.

Nonpayment can lower your credit score.

If nonpayment results in legal action (“unlawful detainer”), a judgment against you will appear on credit reports.

A low credit score can hurt your chances of being able to rent property in the future or increase the amount of rent you are charged. Long-term, coming current on your rent may improve your credit score and, ultimately, save you money.

Learn more about why credit scores are important to your financial health from the Federal Trade Commission.

Paying your rent sets the right example.

Your family looks to you to do the right thing. Honoring your rental agreement sets the right example for them. We know you can catch up and are here to help you do it.

How to Get Back on Track

If you are behind on your rent, we can help you take steps to bring your balance current.

Schedule a financial counseling meeting with your property management office.

RRHA public housing families who are behind in their rent are encouraged to reach out to their property management office to schedule a meeting to assess their account and put a plan in place to come current.

Find your property management contact:

Location Manager Name Desk # Email
Creighton Court Barbara Tisdale 804-780-3404 Barbara.Tisdale@rrha.com
Fairfield Court Christine Segers 804-780-3410 Christine.Segers@rrha.com
Gilpin Court Nichole Adams 804-780-3425 Nichole.Adams@rrha.com
Hillside Court Joy Robinson, Interim Manager (thru 1/13) 804-780-3430 Joy.Robinson@rrha.com
Mosby Court Barbara Campbell 804-780-3444 Barbara.Campbell@rrha.com
Whitcomb Court Pamela Kearney 804-782-3484 Pamela.Kearney@rrha.com
Fay Towers Kathy White 804-780-4791 Kathy.White@rrha.com
Stonewall Rita Small 804-780-8810 Rita.Small@rrha.com

Take advantage of free resources.

At the meeting, property managers will offer resources that range from financial assistance options, budgeting, employment assistance, and free or nearly-free childcare. These resources include:

Property Managers may offer other solutions specific to your situation. Schedule your financial counseling meeting as soon as possible to get back on track!