The federal government offers eviction rental assistance to safeguard citizens with housing emergencies from facing potential eviction. US citizens can get assistance through the Emergency Rental Assistance Program and ensure financial assistance. People living in the US can check out the rental assistance and the emergency rental assistance program details here.
Eviction Rental Assistance
The US government started providing eviction rental assistance during COVID-19 when millions of residents were at risk of losing their houses or rental homes due to the economic crisis. Many people were losing their jobs and were not able to pay their rent or other costs.
The government understood the issue and started providing assistance, where the state, local government, districts, and tribes receive funding from the government to assist eligible households struggling with rent or utilities costs. The assistance not only helps financially but also helps citizens solve legal issues and other eviction-related housing issues.
Under Eviction assistance and prevention, the government has an Emergency Rental Assistance Program which helps the citizen in unexpected events that may lead to potential eviction.
Emergency Rental Assistance Program
The US Department of Treasury administers the Emergency Rental Assistance Program and provides funds to government entities to assist eligible households and save them from possible eviction from their houses. During the COVID, the department has funded over $46 billion in eligible renters and offered housing stability from them during the crisis.
The program mainly helps low-income families who are struggling with overdue rent, housing emergencies, and court costs when a household is facing eviction. The program supports the security deposit and the rent for the first month when they move into a new place or apartment.
The program has two funds ERA 1 and ERA 2 – ERA 1 was directly funded to states, including US territories, local governments, Indian tribes, the Department of Hawaiian Homelands, or other tribally designated housing entities. The ERA1 program ended or expired on 30 Sep 2022, whereas the ERA 2 funds are still going on and it will run till 30 Sep 2025.
So, the eligible households can still apply for the ERAP based on their state, local government, or authority remaining funds. The Department of Housing Services will open the portal for ERAP 2025 application portal on 20 November 2024.
Emergency Rental Assistance Program Eligibility Criteria
Under the ERAP, the state or local government uses the funds given by the US Treasury Department to assist eligible low-income families with house eviction issues. The US states may have different eligibility criteria for the ERAP, but according to the October legislation, the ERAP beneficiaries should meet the following eligibility requirements:
- The applicants must provide proof of possible risk of the household experiencing eviction housing instability, or homelessness
- The household must be a low-income family or experience financial hardship due to unexpected loss of job or health cost that impacts the individual ability to cover their house rent.
- The applicants must have the documents showing their residency proof, unemployment of one of the members where he/she has been employed for more than 90 days or financial hardships.
- The household income of the applicants should not exceed the 50% AMI (Area Median Income).
What is covered under the Emergency Rental Assistance Program?
The ERAP funds are used by the States, local government, and other government entities to help eligible citizens cover the following payments:
- Utilities and energy costs
- Rent payments
- Rent Arrears
- Utilities and home energy costs liabilities
- Other costs that affect the housing stability due to unforeseen circumstances like COVID.
Some states even offer housing counseling for people to understand the housing instability, how to restore it, and how to make the best of the US eviction rental assistance under the ERAP.
How do you show the potential risk of housing instability or eviction?
People who feel they can face potential house eviction can apply for the ERAP and show the risk of homelessness through the following ways:
- You can show the unsafe living conditions or unhealthy conditions, such as overcrowding, poor health, etc.
- You can show the overdue rent or due utility cost or eviction notice
- You can have a grantee who can determine the potential eviction. The grantee can establish different eligibility criteria to determine the household’s potential risk of eviction and other conditions.
How can you claim the Emergency Rental Assistance?
People living in the US struggling with their house rent and are on the verge of house eviction due to overdue rent, later fees, and court costs, can apply for the ERAP through the following way:
- First, you should be clear that you are eligible for the ERAP by contacting your state or local government website or visiting the Department of Housing Services to find out if the program is available in your territory. You can call 211 to access information about the rental assistance availability in your region.
- Next, you should prepare the supporting documents to ensure your claims, such as household income and assets details, District residency proof, house size & rooms, facts & circumstances of the arrears, information on first-month rent, and security deposit.
- Now, you should visit the local government website for the ERAP program and apply for assistance.
- Once you submit the application on the Department of Housing Services portal, the authority will review your application based on the income (AMI) limit, rental arrears, and other things.
The assistance will differ from person to person depending on their requirements, income, rental documents, regions, and other factors. The US citizens should check the official website to ensure that the fund is left in the state and apply accordingly.
