Julia Anderson
The thought of getting evicted in the middle of a pandemic can be scary. The government knew this, which is why help came in the form of an eviction moratorium to keep families from being kicked out of their homes. That moratorium has ended, however, while the pandemic still rages on.
What can you do if you have rent issues and are fearing eviction once again? Apply for the Emergency Rental Assistance program from the U.S. Department of Treasury.
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The program allocates tens of billions of dollars towards emergency rental assistance. Unfortunately, many people don’t know it exists or don’t know how to apply for it. If you’re one of them, keep reading, as we’ll fill you in with everything you need to know to get help now.
Where to Find Emergency Rental Assistance
The billions of dollars set aside for the ERA program haven’t trickled down to all the families who need such aid. One big reason is that the money is split between 495 state and local programs. As such, you’ll need to find your local program so you can get assistance as soon as possible.
This link will help you find your local rent assistance program. While it’s pretty self-explanatory, you have other options too.
If you want to speak to someone immediately, call 211. They have local operators who are experts on rental assistance and food assistance, healthcare, and more. Another option is to get in touch with your local Public Housing Agency. They can give you housing help in both the short and long term.
Get Help With More Than Just Your Rent
The ERA program can help you pay the rent, along with these housing-related costs:
- Electricity
- Gas
- Water
- Internet
- Sewer
- Trash removal
If you had to move or had landlord problems due to financial issues caused by the pandemic, the ERA program can help with those costs, too, such as:
- Late fees
- Moving expenses
- Screening fees
- Application fees
- Security deposits
And if you want even more help, the ERA program may be able to provide it via housing counseling and legal representation.
Are You Eligible for the ERA Program?
The best way to determine if you qualify for the ERA program is to contact your local office to speak to someone or apply. However, before you do, you may want to know if you’re even in the ballpark for eligibility.
Here are the basic eligibility requirements. To be on the safe side, you should meet all of them:
- One household member has financial hardships, owes major debt, lost income, or is eligible for unemployment. They also have housing instability that could cause homelessness.
- Your household income is below a certain amount for your area.
- You have a rental agreement in place for your home, apartment, mobile home, etc. It does not have to be a signed lease.
