Get Help With Your Rent Here

If you’re one of them, we’ll show you how to get the help you need so you can avoid homelessness.

You probably know that an eviction moratorium was in place to keep you from getting put on the street by your landlord. Now that it’s over, though, what’s your next move?

If you still can’t afford to pay your rent, your next move should be to apply for the Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program. It comes from the U.S. Department of Treasury and offers tens of billions of dollars in funding to keep families in their homes.

Since so many don’t even know this program exists, we’ll give you the essential information you need to get started. Once you’re finished reading this, don’t delay in making the right contacts, as you don’t want to be left out in the cold if funding dries up.

Applying for Help From the ERA Program

Even though so many families are struggling to pay the rent, only a tiny percentage of the billions set aside for the ERA program has been distributed. Why? Blame it on a lack of information, as most don’t know such assistance exists. Beyond that, the funding is split between 495 state and local programs, which can create a ton of confusion in itself.

To participate in the ERA, your best bet is to contact your local program directly. This link will help you pinpoint the program nearest to you. If, for some reason, you cannot find a local program via that link, do one of the following:

1. Call 211 to speak to a local operator versed in emergency rental assistance.
2. Contact your local Public Housing Agency and ask to speak to a counselor.

Now that you know how to get started, let’s look at some more essential information about emergency rental assistance.

Eligibility

There are three significant hurdles to overcome regarding eligibility for emergency rental assistance.
First, you have to show that your income is eligible. In other words, you’ll need to either write a statement or provide proof that you lost income, qualify for unemployment, make below a certain amount, etc. Your local program will have its own procedures for this part.

Second, you have to show some evidence of housing instability. This can come via a written statement or paperwork showing that you’re facing eviction, have past due rent or utility bills, are living in unsafe or unhealthy conditions, etc.

Third, you need to show that there’s an agreement between you and a landlord to pay rent. The easiest way is to do so with a lease or a rental agreement showing your rental payment amount and address. If you don’t have such paperwork, you could use a statement from your landlord, proof that you pay for utilities (a water bill, for example), or some other form of proof requested by your local program.

Types of Rental Assistance

Emergency rental assistance can help pay overdue rent dating back to March 13, 2020, as well as future rent. It can also pay overdue bills for utilities, Internet, moving expenses, and late fees from that same date.