Indianapolis suspends rental assistance program after over 10,000 applications in 3 days

Indianapolis is suspending incoming rental assistance applications and placing residents on a waiting list after receiving more than 10,000 applications in a period of just three days, an indication of the significant need tenants face during the coronavirus pandemic. 

The city's rental assistance program, which launched Monday, provides $15 million to $18 million in funding for residents whose incomes have been reduced due to the pandemic. Renters could originally apply online at indyrent.org. 

But because of the high volume of 10,118 applications, the website has temporarily suspended new applications and switched to a waiting list. Residents are asked to enter their email address to receive notification when applications reopen. 

What to know: Qualifications for Indianapolis rental assistance program 

The website will take resident contact information while existing applications are processed, work that is expected to last through next week.

"As more residents seek to take advantage of this opportunity, we will be assessing how we can further maximize this funding," Mayor Joe Hogsett said in a statement. 

The money comes primarily from CARES Act funding that the city received, with additional assistance from the Lilly Endowment.

Call IndyStar reporter Amelia Pak-Harvey at 317-444-6175 or email her at apakharvey@indystar.com. Follow her on Twitter @AmeliaPakHarvey.