Money the city set aside in March to help renters displaced by apartment-to-condominium conversions has sparsely been used, but the program has been extended two months to aid those not eligible for assistance from a new state law.

The state Legislature passed earlier this year a bill requiring developers to provide relocation assistance equal to three month's rent to households earning 80 percent or below the median income. The new law went into effect August 1. Previously developers were only required to pay $500 to assist displaced renters.

But a few renters had been given notice their building was going condo before the new law was in effect, so the city-instituted assistance program has been extended until the end of September, said Judy Summerfield with the Seattle Human Services Department.

"We still want to make sure that we are working with those households," Summerfield said.

So far, four households have been awarded funds, averaging $657 per household. The department has five additional tenants currently looking of new housing who will also receive assistance, said Summerfield.

In all, about $7,000 from the approximately $100,000 fund will have been allocated to help families relocate by the program's end. The maximum amount a household can receive in help is $1,500.

Under the new state law, tenants 65 and over and people with special needs can qualify for an additional $1,500 in relocation costs. Developers are now also required to provide information regarding payment of the assistance and relocation information packets to tenants.

The remaining city funds will likely go toward helping to balance the 2009-2010 city budget, said Sarah Levin, with the Human Services Department, the department handling the relocation assistance money.

Levin said a "good faith" effort was put forth to get the word out about the money. The city has contracted with the social service organization Solid Ground to handle applications and letters have been written to property owners currently converting to request forwarding addresses for renters who have already left.

Staffers at the city's 211 information line are still screening for people who may be eligible said Levin.

Just 227 units have been converted this year, and 125 of those are yet tentative, said Levin, who agreed that conversions are waning compared to the intensity of the past few years. More than 4,500 Seattle apartments have turned into condos in the last three years.

Approximately 250 of those apartments redeveloped into condominiums have been in the Ballard area. The Lock Vista Apartments, a 191-unit complex, faced conversion last year, but residents and neighbors strongly opposed it and the conversion deal ultimately fell through.

Rebekah Schilperoort can be reached at 783-1244 or rebekahs@robinsonnews.com.