Upward Transitions has reached its funding capacity for this week and can no longer receive requests for assistance. Please call 2-1-1 to be connected to other resources that may be able to assist you.

Holiday Notice

Upward Transitions will not take Rent/Utility Assistance screenings on Monday, February 15, 2021, due to the holiday. We will resume screenings on February 22, 2021.

NOTE: The need in our community is great and requests have increased significantly. We reach our weekly funding capacity very quickly. Unfortunately, you may not get through to request assistance.

Assistance Screening

Our weekly rent and utility assistance screening opens each Monday online via our website at 7:00 a.m. and by phone at 9:00 a.m., for families with children under the age of 18 or seniors age 55 or older living in Oklahoma County or Oklahoma City limits.

To check if you qualify for assistance through our Monday screening, please see the basic eligibility criteria, as well as the required list of documentation below.

You may apply to be screened at 7:00 a.m. by submitting an online website form: Click here for more information.

If you do not have internet access, you may apply to be screened by phone at 9:00 a.m. by calling 405-232-5507, then following the prompts until a case manager answers. If you receive our phone system’s busy message, “your call cannot be completed...,” please hang up and call again.

Our screening process requires that you meet the eligibility criteria and can provide the required documentation listed below.

We receive requests until the number of qualifying requests received exceeds our funding capacity for the week.

We do not accept requests during weeks with a holiday.

Rent and Utility Assistance Screening

Basic Eligibility Requirements

Criteria

Must live in Oklahoma County or Oklahoma City limits.
Have a 5-day notice to quit, eviction notice, or cutoff notice in the client’s name for the current address.
Have minor children under the age of 18 or senior 55 years of age or older living in the home.
Have proof of hardship that has caused the difficulty in paying bill.
Have proof of income or pending income.
Assistance is limited to one time.

How to Request Assistance

If you meet the required criteria and are able to provide the listed documentation, we will accept applications for assistance until the number of qualifying requests received exceeds our funding capacity for the week.

We do not accept requests during weeks with a holiday.

Please understand that depending upon the number of requests we receive, it may take up to 48 hours before you are contacted. We will make every effort to keep you informed, but please understand, the need in our community is great.

Thank you for your patience.

IF YOU qualify for rent & Utility assistance screening?

Complete an Online Assistance Screening.

Our weekly rent and utility assistance screening form is open online on Monday beginning at 7:00 a.m. until the number of qualifying requests received exceeds our funding capacity for the week. Please complete the online assistance screening form by clicking the yellow square button.

Please note: If you do not meet the criteria in the ONLINE assistance screening process, the website will not allow you to access the Request For Assistance form.

If you do not have internet access, you may apply to be screened by phone at 9:00 a.m. by calling 405-232-5507, then following the prompts until a case manager answers. If you receive our phone system’s busy message, “your call cannot be completed...,” please hang up and call again.

We do not accept requests during weeks with a holiday.

Required Documentation

Please note, some programs may require additional documentation. After completing our initial screening, your case manager will confirm the required documents.

Completed agency application.
Signed authorizations for release of information for property owner/manager.
Signed authorizations for release of information for utility provider(s).
Copy of driver’s license or state identification card and Social Security cards for adult family members.
Copy of Social Security cards or other verification of Social Security numbers for children (DHS printout, tax return, etc.).
Documentation of Income or Pending Income Verification

Copy of lease if requesting rent assistance.
Copy of eviction notice or 5-day notice to quit.
Copy of utility bill(s) with cutoff notice if requesting assistance with utility bill(s).
Proof of hardship that has caused the difficulty in paying the bill.
Completed property owner/manager verification form.
Completed W-9 from the property owner/manager.

At Risk of Eviction?

Please contact legal aid at (888) 534-5243 or visit oklegalconnect.org and legalaidok.org/if-you-need-help.

Other Resources

Please call 2-1-1 to be connected to other resources who may be able to assist you. The following are available resources to consider:

Residential Evictions

The Centers for Disease Control order declared a national moratorium on certain residential evictions for nonpayment of rent, as well as other fees or charges. The moratorium applied only to tenants who meet certain requirements and provide a signed form declaration to their landlords.

To sign the declaration, a tenant must be able to meet certain financial criteria, be unable to pay full rent due to an income loss or “extraordinary” medical bills, have used best efforts to obtain governmental rent assistance, likely become homeless or forced to “live in close quarters” in another residence if evicted, and use best efforts to make timely partial payments that are as close to the full payment as the individual’s circumstances permit.

Following is more information from Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma. www.legalaidok.org/covid-19-response/ or 1-888-534-5243.