If you or someone you know or work with is having difficulty paying their rent, financial assistance may be available. The Emergency Rental Assistance program helps renters and landlords by providing money for housing costs through organizations in your community.
Not sure where to start? Our answers to common questions about Emergency Rental Assistance can help you learn:
How to apply for emergency rental assistance?
You apply through your local ERA program. Each program has some flexibility in how they set up to suit the needs of their local community. For example, in some areas, you can apply for rental assistance yourself. In others, landlords need to submit an application first. To find rental assistance in your area and learn how to apply, visit
- The U.S. Department of Treasury’s ERA program finder, or
- The National Low Income Housing Coalition database of programs
Use the search bar to find programs in your area. If you cannot find any program in your area, call 2-1-1 or your local housing authority for assistance.
What emergency rental assistance cover?
Treasury allows local programs to cover rent, utilities, and home energy costs. This includes electricity, gas, fuel oil, water and sewer, and trash removal. If your landlord normally pays for utilities or home energy costs, these are counted as part of your rent.
Rental assistance may also cover:
- Reasonable late fees (if not included in your rental or utility debt)
- Internet service to your home
- Moving expenses and other rental-related fees (such as security deposits, application fees, or screening fees) for families who have to move
Some programs may also provide housing counseling, case management, legal representation, and other housing stability services.
If you are eligible for emergency rental assistance?
To be eligible for help covering your rent, you must have an agreement to pay rent for your home or mobile home lot. You don’t necessarily need to have a signed lease, and your home could be an apartment, house, mobile home, or other place.
These three statements also need to be true:
- At least one member of your household has:
- Qualified for unemployment or should qualify
- Lost income
- Owed large expenses, OR
- Had other financial hardships
- Your household income is below a certain amount, based on where you live
- At least one member of your household is experiencing housing instability, which means they are at risk of becoming homeless or would have trouble finding a stable place to live
How to show that you are eligible?
When you apply for emergency rental help, you will be asked to show that your income is eligible and that you’re experiencing housing instability. To help eligible families get the assistance they need during the pandemic, programs should be flexible about the kinds of documentation they require. This means you can show digital photos, copies, e-mails, or written statements from your employer, landlord, caseworker, or another professional who is familiar with your household income and eligibility.
You must sign a written statement that the information in your application is correct and complete and that you will use the emergency rental assistance for the costs it is meant to cover.
If you’re having a hard time paying your rent during the COVID-19 pandemic, you’re not alone.
