Emergency Rental Assistance Programs: A Complete Guide
When you're behind on rent and facing the possibility of eviction, emergency rental assistance (ERA) programs can be a lifeline. These programs — funded by federal, state, and local governments as well as nonprofit organizations — provide financial help to cover past-due rent, current rent, and in many cases, utility bills. This guide explains how emergency rental assistance works, who qualifies, and how to find and apply for programs in your area.
What Is Emergency Rental Assistance?
Emergency rental assistance programs provide direct financial aid to renters who are struggling to keep up with housing costs. Unlike Section 8, which provides ongoing monthly assistance, ERA programs are designed as short-term or one-time interventions to help tenants get caught up on rent and avoid eviction.
The scope of these programs expanded dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Congress allocated over $46 billion through two rounds of the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERA1 and ERA2). While much of that federal funding has been spent, many states and localities have established their own ongoing programs using a combination of remaining federal dollars, state appropriations, and other funding sources.
Emergency rental assistance typically covers back rent (arrears) owed to a landlord, current and future rent payments (usually up to a specified number of months), utility bills and arrears (electricity, gas, water, internet), and in some programs, relocation costs or security deposits.
Payments are almost always made directly to landlords and utility companies rather than to the tenant, which helps ensure the funds are used for their intended purpose and provides assurance to landlords that they'll receive the money.
Who Qualifies for Emergency Rental Assistance?
While eligibility criteria vary by program, most emergency rental assistance programs share common requirements.
Income Requirements
Most programs require that household income falls below a certain percentage of the Area Median Income (AMI). Common thresholds are 50% of AMI for the highest-priority applicants and 80% of AMI as the maximum eligibility ceiling. Some programs use federal poverty guidelines instead of AMI.
Income verification requirements vary. Some programs accept self-attestation (your own written statement of income), while others require documentation such as pay stubs, tax returns, or benefit letters. Programs funded by federal ERA dollars generally allow self-attestation when documentation is unavailable, making access easier for people in crisis situations.
Housing Instability
Most programs require that you demonstrate housing instability or risk of homelessness. This can include being behind on rent payments, having received a late notice, pay-or-quit notice, or eviction filing, experiencing a reduction in income or increase in expenses, or qualifying for unemployment benefits.
COVID-19 Impact
Programs specifically funded by the federal ERA1 and ERA2 allocations require that at least one household member has experienced a qualifying hardship during or due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes job loss or reduction in hours, illness or medical expenses, childcare disruptions, or other pandemic-related financial hardship. As these federal programs wind down, newer state and local programs may not include this requirement.
Priority Populations
Many programs prioritize assistance for certain groups, including households with income at or below 30% of AMI, families with children under 18, households that have received an eviction notice, individuals who have been unemployed for 90 or more days, veterans, elderly individuals, and persons with disabilities.
Types of Emergency Rental Assistance Programs
Federal Programs
The largest source of rental assistance funding in recent years has been the federal government. ERA1 (authorized under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021) allocated $25 billion, while ERA2 (authorized under the American Rescue Plan Act) allocated an additional $21.55 billion. These funds were distributed to states, counties, and cities, which created their own programs to distribute the money.
While the initial surge of federal ERA funding has been largely disbursed, the infrastructure and administrative systems created to distribute it remain in many communities, often repurposed for state and local funding sources.
The HOME-ARP (HOME Investment Partnerships Program — American Rescue Plan) provides additional funding for rental assistance, supportive services, and affordable housing development.
State Programs
Many states have established their own rental assistance programs using state appropriations, federal block grant funding, or remaining ERA dollars. These programs vary widely in scope, funding levels, and eligibility criteria. Some states operate centralized programs while others distribute funds to local administrators.
State programs may be temporary (lasting until funding runs out) or ongoing with annual appropriations. Funding levels fluctuate, so a program that was well-funded last year may have reduced capacity this year.
Local Programs
Counties, cities, and municipalities often run their own rental assistance programs, sometimes in coordination with state programs and sometimes independently. These local programs may be funded through local government budgets, Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, HOME Investment Partnerships funds, private donations and philanthropic grants, or local housing trust funds.
Nonprofit Programs
Charitable organizations, religious institutions, and community action agencies frequently provide emergency rental assistance. These programs tend to be smaller in scale but can be more flexible and faster to access than government programs. Common nonprofit providers include the Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, St. Vincent de Paul Society, local United Way chapters, community action agencies, and faith-based organizations.
Nonprofit programs may have different eligibility criteria, and some don't require the same level of documentation as government programs.
How to Apply for Emergency Rental Assistance
Step 1: Identify Programs in Your Area
Finding the right program is often the hardest part. Multiple programs may serve your area, each with different application processes, eligibility rules, and funding availability. Start by calling 211, the nationwide helpline that connects callers with local social services, including rental assistance programs. You can also check your state or county housing agency's website, visit your local community action agency, search AssistanceFinder.org for programs in your area, or contact legal aid organizations in your community.
Step 2: Check Funding Availability
Before investing time in an application, confirm that the program is currently accepting applications and has funding available. Many programs pause applications when funding runs low and reopen when new funding is allocated. Program staff can usually tell you whether funds are available and approximately how long processing takes.
Step 3: Gather Documentation
While documentation requirements vary, most programs will ask for proof of identity (government-issued ID, passport, or similar), proof of residency (lease agreement, utility bill, or mail at current address), proof of income (pay stubs, tax returns, benefit letters, or self-attestation), proof of housing instability (past-due rent notice, eviction filing, or landlord statement), and landlord information (name, contact details, payment address, and W-9 form).
Having these documents ready before you apply will speed up the process significantly. If you don't have certain documents, ask the program about alternative verification methods — many programs accept self-attestation or can help you obtain needed records.
Step 4: Submit Your Application
Applications may be submitted online, in person, by mail, or by phone, depending on the program. Online applications have become standard for most government-funded programs. Some programs require appointments, while others accept walk-ins. Community-based organizations may offer assistance with the application process.
Step 5: Landlord Participation
Most programs require some level of landlord participation. At minimum, the landlord will need to verify the amount owed and provide payment information. Some programs require the landlord to sign a participation agreement that may include provisions like agreeing not to evict the tenant for a specified period after receiving assistance.
If your landlord is uncooperative, some programs can still provide assistance directly to the tenant, though this is less common and may depend on the specific program's rules.
Step 6: Processing and Payment
Processing times vary widely. Some programs can process applications and issue payments within a few days, while others take several weeks or even months. If you're facing an imminent eviction, communicate the urgency to the program staff — many have expedited processing for emergency situations.
Payments are typically sent directly to the landlord and/or utility company. You'll receive confirmation when payments are made.
Maximum Assistance Amounts
The amount of assistance available varies by program. Federal ERA programs generally allowed up to 12 months of assistance under ERA1 (with an additional 3 months in some cases) and up to 18 months under ERA2. State and local programs set their own limits, which may be lower.
Maximum dollar amounts also vary. Some programs cap assistance at a specific dollar figure (for example, $5,000 or $10,000), while others cover however many months of rent are owed up to the program's time limit.
In most cases, you can receive assistance more than once, though there may be waiting periods between applications or lifetime caps on the total assistance received.
What to Do If You're Denied
If your application is denied, the program should provide a reason. Common reasons for denial include income exceeding the program's limits, incomplete documentation, the program running out of funds, or not meeting the program's definition of housing instability.
If you're denied, ask about the appeals process, check whether you might qualify for a different program, address whatever caused the denial (such as gathering missing documents) and reapply if possible, and contact a legal aid organization for help, especially if you're facing eviction.
Protecting Yourself from Eviction While Waiting
If you've applied for assistance but haven't received it yet, and your landlord is moving forward with eviction proceedings, there are steps you can take. Communicate with your landlord about your pending application — many landlords will pause eviction proceedings if they know payment is coming. Attend all court hearings and bring proof of your pending application. Request continuances from the court to allow time for your application to be processed. Contact a legal aid organization for free legal assistance with eviction defense. Check whether your state or locality has any eviction protections or mediation programs in place.
Building Long-Term Stability
Emergency rental assistance is designed to address immediate crises, but it's equally important to work toward longer-term housing stability. While receiving assistance, consider applying for Section 8 or other ongoing rental assistance programs, connecting with workforce development or job training programs, building an emergency savings fund (even small amounts help), exploring other benefits you may be eligible for such as SNAP, Medicaid, or utility assistance, and meeting with a HUD-approved housing counselor who can help with budgeting and long-term housing planning.
AssistanceFinder.org is an independent informational resource and is not affiliated with any government agency. Program availability and eligibility requirements change frequently. Always verify current information directly with the program administrator.