Financial Incentives for Stable Housing (FISH)

What is the FISH program?

Community Roots has heard from many households that they are still experiencing financial hardships: the need for rental assistance remains. The Financial Incentives for Stable Housing (FISH) program provides targeted financial and supportive resources to Liberty Bank Building and Africatown Plaza residents.

This program is designed to give residents of those buildings intensive support through rental assistance, money management workshops, and monthly check-ins with Resident Services staff. Our goal is to equip residents with tools they can use to maintain sustainable housing long term. Residents can be awarded up to $7,000 to reduce their rental balance.

Resident Services staff will issue a $50 grocery gift card at each monthly meeting as an additional benefit of participating in the FISH Program. At the conclusion of the program, participants will be given a $100 grocery gift card.

How does the FISH program work?

FISH is a four month long financial management program facilitated by a financial advisor from Washington State Employees Credit Union (WSECU) designed to help you get caught up on past due rent. Program participants can be awarded up to $7,000 to be applied toward rental debt.

Participating residents will be asked to:

  • Create a budget.
  • Complete a housing stability assessment.
  • Attend financial workshops.
  • Have monthly check-ins with Resident Services staff.
  • Sign a “Participation Contract.”

Please note that residents who accept an award but do not complete the program will no longer be eligible for Community Roots’ rental assistance program in the future.

Who is eligible for FISH?

  • You are a resident of Liberty Bank Building or Africatown Plaza.
  • You have established a payment plan with your building manager.
  • You have not received any behavioral notices in the past six months.
  • You have a financial resource to continue paying your monthly rent and agreed monthly payment plan amount.
  • If you have a 30-day pay or vacate notice, there are two options for you to qualify for this rental assistance program:
    • Have a current balance under $7,000 at the time you apply; OR
    • Make a payment with personal funds or another source that clears before the expiration of your 30-day notice, which eliminates the difference between your current balance and a $7,000 assistance award.

Please note that this program is intended to resolve rental debt; unfortunately, funds cannot be applied to a future balance. Only past-due balances as of June 1, 2025, are eligible for assistance.

APPLY FOR THE FISH PROGRAM

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