FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Common Application Questions
Am I eligible? How do I apply?
You are likely eligible for SAFHR for Renters if you are a renter living in Missouri with income less than 80% of your Area Median Income (AMI). Determine your AMI with our tool here.
What is the status of my SAFHR application?
Please allow for at least 14 days from the time your application was submitted to be reviewed. If you have questions about your application status, you can call 833-541-1599 or email mo.safhr.application@mhdc.com
I submitted my SAFHR application today. How long will it take for my application to be approved and paid?
Once your application is submitted, it will go through a review round. Please allow for at least 14 days from the time your application was submitted to go through review. You will be notified if you need to make any corrections.
You will have 10 days to make any required corrections. Once all corrections have been made, and your application has been approved, you will receive an email notification from noreply@mail.smapply.net (notifications are automatically generated by the application system, please be sure to check your junk filters). If you submitted a paper application and did not provide an email address, you will receive an approval letter in the mail. Payment of a SAFHR award can take 2-3 weeks from date of the approval notification.
Can someone help me complete my SAFHR application?
Yes - there are agencies available to help you, at no charge. Please see our lists of SAFHR service organizations that are able to assist you with your SAFHR for Renters or SAFHR for Homeowners applications.
I was already approved and received assistance through SAFHR, can I get more rental assistance?
You may reapply for additional rental assistance as long as your household does not receive more than 18 total months of total SAFHR assistance and your household does not apply for any months in which you have already received SAFHR or other assistance.
My landlord will not participate in SAFHR, what can I do?
If your landlord does not wish to participate in the SAFHR program, please have them decline the recommendation task in the email they receive. If your landlord is unable to decline the recommendation, then the tenant should email mo.safhr@mhdc.com with the application number for additional assistance.
My landlord is still charging me late fees while in the process of completing the SAFHR application, what should I do?
We cannot provide any legal advice, but you can connect with a legal services agency in your area. Find a list of participating SAFHR service agencies here.
How long is the SAFHR application process?
The application process timeframe is different for each and every applicant. Once an application is fully complete and submitted, it goes through a review round. Errors or missing information will need to be corrected by the tenant before the application is approved. The tenant receives notification to make any corrections and has 10 days to complete. Once the application is free of errors, it is approved and sent to MHDC for final approval. Once MHDC approves your application, payment is processed for the award. Payment of a SAFHR award can take 2-3 weeks from date of approval email.
How do I know if I have been approved or denied for a SAFHR award?
Once an application is approved or denied you will receive an email notification that will be sent to the same email address that was used to create and submit your application.
Why does my application show a lock icon?
Please be assured that the lock feature is a designation used internally to process applications. This designation means that your application is making progress toward the final stage of the application process. Please monitor your e-mail and the portal for any updates to your status.
What does it mean when my application is “Pending Approval?”
When your application enters the “Pending Approval” status, this means that your application has passed initial review and is making progress toward the final stage of the application process. Please monitor your e-mail and the portal for any updates to your status. Please note that your application may remain with this status for a couple of weeks.
Can you send me a paper application?
Please visit the link below for a map of service agencies that can assist you in completing your SAFHR application, including a paper application option, if needed. You can reach out to these service agencies directly via the contact information provided: https://www.mohousingresources.com/hsed
Can review of my application be prioritized?
SAFHR staff work to review and process all applications as quickly as possible. In order to ensure speedy reviews and streamlined processing times, the SAFHR program is not accepting priority requests at this time. Your application will be reviewed by our team as quickly as possible.
Can my utility pledge be prioritized?
The SAFHR program is not accepting priority utility requests at this time. SAFHR staff are unable to pledge any requested utility assistance until an application has completed required processing. Once your application is fully processed, you will receive an email.
What should I do if I’m facing eviction?
SAFHR has partnered with Housing Stability and Eviction Diversion (HSED) Agencies across Missouri. These agencies are available to assist you with completing a SAFHR financial assistance application or connect you with other services you may need to achieve housing stability. Reach out to the closest HSED agency to you today: https://www.mohousingresources.com/hsed.
Why has my application been declined?
If you have received an update that your application has been declined, this means that your application was considered ineligible for the SAFHR program. View the SAFHR Appeals Policy here for information on how a decision like this can be appealed.
My question isn’t answered here, how do I find more information?
You may call 833-541-1599 or email mo.safhr.application@mhdc.com for more assistance. You may also use our chat feature while you are in the Survey Monkey Apply application platform to chat directly with a processor if you cannot find your answer elsewhere.
TECHNICAL APPLICATION QUESTIONS
My SAFHR application says it is 100 percent complete and there is nothing left to fill in, what do I do?
You need to log into your application and click submit. After all tasks are complete, the submit button will be located at the top left corner of your application as shown below.
I accidentally submitted my SAFHR application without correcting it, can you please send it back?
Yes, you have two options. First, while in the Survey Monkey Apply platform you can use the “chat” function to speak directly with one of our processors. Second, you can email mo.safhr.application@mhdc.com noting the issue along with your application number.
I am a landlord. My tenant has submitted a SAFHR application, how can I give a recommendation?
You will receive an email notification once the request for a recommendation is sent by the tenant application. Please visit https://www.mohousingresources.com/safhr-program-materials for instructions at the bottom of the page called “Landlord Recommendation Instructions" for additional information on how to give a recommendation.
Why isn’t my landlord receiving the notification email to complete the “recommender task” portion of the application?
Please verify you have entered in the correct email address for your landlord and make sure they are checking their junk and spam folders. Email will come from noreply@mail.smapply.net. Please visit https://www.mohousingresources.com/safhr-program-materials for instructions on how to provide a landlord a recommendation. Instructions are called “SAFHR Application Portal Instructions,” pages 9-12. If this does not solve the issue, please email mo.safhr.application@mhdc.com with the issue and application number.
What corrections do I need to make on my SAFHR application?
The email notification you received includes “cure” or correction instructions. For assistance on how to view the corrections needed please visit our website and review the “Application Cure Instructions”: https://www.mohousingresources.com/safhr-program-materials
Why am I being asked to make corrections to my SAFHR application?
SAFHR is a federally funded stimulus program with strict eligibility and application requirements. The application is designed to ask no more than what is required to determine eligibility for the program. MHDC will only approve eligible applications.
Why am I being asked to provide additional documentation?
Due to federal requirements, MHDC must verify a person’s identity to be sure that it matches the lease provided and that they are in fact the tenant applying. MHDC must verify that the tenant has submitted an eligible lease and that they are at or below 80 percent of the Area Median Income. The documents required to be uploaded support the application eligibility for federal compliance purposes.
PAYMENT OF AWARD QUESTIONS
How will I receive my funds?
SAFHR awards may be deposited via ACH transfer to a valid personal or business checking account, or mailed by paper check. Beginning November 1, 2021, the SAFHR program will no longer issue payment to pre-paid cards or payment apps. The SAFHR program is committed to providing assistance to those in need, so please contact us if your circumstances don't allow for these payment methods.
I received a payment, but I’m not sure what it is for. What should I do?
If your payment has a reference number similar to “SAFHR-00000-Last Name” The “00000-Last Name” references the application number and first characters of the tenant’s last name for the application submitted. The reference number can help you connect the payment to the tenant you provided banking information for. Not all recipient banks allow for a reference number. If you do not have a reference number please contact us at mo.safhr.application@mhdc.com. Please be sure to include as much detail as possible in the email.
Why is it taking so long for my payment to be received?
Payment generally takes 2-3 weeks to be processed after an approval email has been sent. Paper checks may take longer to receive depending on mail carrier services. Due to the very high volume of applicants and payments issued, corrections to banking information or adjustments to payment amounts will further delay the time it takes to issue payment.
My paper check has not arrived. Can you provide a status update?
If it has been more than 6 weeks since you have received your approval email,
please contact us at mo.safhr.application@mhdc.com.
Why did I receive a paper check when I requested direct deposit?
Your SAFHR award may have been rejected by your bank and sent back to MHDC. In order to expedite the payment process MHDC may issue a paper check(s) to the payment address entered in the application if the electronic transfer is unsuccessful.
I realized that my electronic bank information is incorrect, how do I correct it?
Please email mo.safhr.application@mhdc.com.
How long will it take for my bank information to be corrected and for me to receive payment?
Our team will work as quickly as possible to reissue a payment. Due to the high volume of applications and payments to be processed please allow up to three weeks for a payment to be reissued once corrected banking information is received. In many cases, if the original banking information provided is not correct a payment may automatically be reissued as a paper check and mailed to the payment address listed in the application.
It has been over three weeks since I received an approval email and I have not received a SAFHR award in my bank account. What should I do?
Please check with your bank first to verify they are not holding the award. If you bank is unable to assist you, please email mo.safhr.application@mhdc.com
My bank rejected my SAFHR payment, what do I do?
If you’ve been contacted that your SAFHR payment has been rejected by your bank, please contact your bank for additional information, including the correct routing number and account number. Please provide this information by email to mo.safhr.application@mhdc.com. In many cases, if the original banking information provided is not correct a payment may automatically be reissued as a paper check and mailed to the address listed in the application.
Why is it taking so long for my payment to be received?
Depending on current SAFHR application volume, it may take up to three weeks for a payment to be received after approval. If a direct deposit attempt has failed, MHDC may send a paper check to the payment address entered in the application. Missing or incorrect information, as noted below, can further delay payment:
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An incorrect account or routing number for an electronic payment (please see the attached guide).
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Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) information doesn’t match the W-9 provided for the person to receive payment.
How long do I have to cash or deposit my paper check from SAFHR?
Outstanding checks issued for SAFHR awards will be voided after 45 days if they have not been deposited or cashed. If you have a SAFHR award that was issued as a check that is older than 45 days, please contact mo.safhr@mhdc.com. Please note that bank fees are the responsibility of the account holder and the SAFHR program cannot assist with these.