Emergency Rental Assistance Program Ensuring Housing Security

Emergency Rental Assistance Program under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, is a federally financed program. The American Rescue Plan Act supervised by the U.S. Department of Treasury aims to help individuals to pay their bills on their respective housing rentals and stability.

The $46 billion allocations for the said program will help individuals from the States, District of Columbia, U.S Territories, and Indian Tribes to fix their financial crisis upon their household expenses.

The Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) Program was supported financially by the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) created from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act, P.L. 116-136). Also, the said program is divided into two portions, ERA 1 which was launched last December 27, 2020, and ERA 2 created last March 11, 2021.

What are the Portions of the Emergency Rental Assistance Program?

The Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) Program will serve as great assistance for each and every individual that is directly or indirectly affected by the pandemic, especially those families or individuals who belong to low-income and poor communities as they continue to have more bills on their household.

This will also help United States individuals that are homeless to have decent, comfortable, and safe homes where they can stay. Moreover, this program was being localized and handled within local states of the nation in order to serve the program properly.

Emergency Rental Assistance 1

Emergency Rental Assistance 1 was created last December 27, 2020, under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 with over $25 billion in allocations to assist the household rental and expenses of the program beneficiaries.

In this program, the allocation for each state and tribe is the following.

• States with the District of Columbia local governments will receive a total of $23.785 billion.
• The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa will receive a $400 million budget.
• Indian tribes and Native Hawaiians will have a total of $800 million in funds for the said program.
• Treasury Administration Expenses will receive $15 million as part of the ERA1.

Eligible Individuals that Can be Part of the Emergency Rental Assistance Program.

1. In a household, one or more individuals should have unemployed benefits, have a decrease in the total household income, and experience a financial crisis as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak.
2. In a household, one or more individuals can present the experience of being homeless or having household instability.
3. The total household income must not exceed 80% of the Area Median Income.

Emergency Rental Assistance 2

The Emergency Rental Assistance 2 (ERA2) is formed as an extension of the Emergency Rental Assistance 1 (ERA1) last March 11, 2021, under the American Rescue Plan Act with $21.5 billion in funds to assist more individuals that can benefit from the said program.

For Emergency Rental Assistance 2 (ERA2) allocation is divided within states and tribes, the following are the allocated fund for each state and tribe:

• States with the District of Columbia local governments will receive a total of $18.7 billion.
• The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa will receive a $305 million budget.
• Treasury Administration Expenses and Treasury Office of Inspector General (OIG) will receive $30 million and $3 million respectively as part of the ERA2.
• High-need Grantees will have a $2.5 billion allocation fund.

Eligible Individuals that Can be Part of the Emergency Rental Assistance Program.

1. In a household, one or more individuals should have unemployed benefits, have a decrease in the total household income, and experience a financial crisis as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak.
2.  In a household, one or more individuals can present the experience of being homeless or having household instability.
3. The house should belong in the low-income community (as what the n section 3(b) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)).2 defines).

How to Apply for ERA

If you want to apply for the Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) Program, you can visit your local Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) Program and ask if you’re eligible to be a beneficiary of the said program and proceed with the application process.

You can also check on the internet your local Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) Program by navigating the consumer finance website. For a phone call, you can dial 2-1-1 or your local housing authority for help.

Documents Needed Upon Applying for the Program

For the application of the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, you can prepare the following documents.

1. Personal identification (can be a photo ID, driver's license or non-driver government-issued ID, passport, EBT/Benefits Issuance Card, birth certificate, or school registration)
2. Social Security number (any household member that’s been issued one)
3. Proof of rental amount (should be signed even if it's expired or landlord attestation)
4. Proof of residency and occupancy (rent receipt, utility bill, school records, bank statement, postal mail with the name of the applicant, insurance bill, or driver's license should be current)
5. Proof of Income (demonstrating either annual or monthly income)
6. Copy of gas or electric utility bill (if you’ll apply for household utility payment)

For Landlord Applicants, you can prepare the following:

• W-9 tax form
• Executed lease
• Documentation of rent due
• Banking information

Tips on Applying for the ERA Program

• Check first whether you are eligible for the said program.
• Prepare the documents you need before applying for the program.