Emergency Rental Assistance Application: October 2023 Guide

What is Emergency Rental Assistance?

Your emergency rental assistance application will provide financial support offered by federal, state, and local government agencies, as well as non-profit organizations. Its primary objective is to aid eligible households facing financial challenges promptly. This assistance serves as a rapid response to prevent homelessness and tackle housing crises, encompassing overdue rent, upcoming rental payments, and utility costs. Below, you'll discover answers to commonly asked questions, along with an exhaustive catalog of nationwide Emergency Rental Assistance Programs currently offering financial assistance.

Emergency Rental Assistance FAQ

How do I apply for emergency rental assistance?

To initiate your application for emergency rental assistance, please refer to our comprehensive nationwide program list below. You can access the application portal or download essential forms by visiting the program's website. Follow the provided guidelines closely, and ensure you submit all required documentation to successfully complete your emergency rental assistance application.

What does emergency rental assistance cover?

Emergency rental assistance generally encompasses outstanding rental arrears, upcoming rent obligations, and utility bills. This can include unpaid rent, security deposits, utility charges, and other costs related to housing.

Am I eligible for emergency rental assistance?

Eligibility requirements for emergency rental assistance differ from program to program, but in general, you are typically required to show evidence of financial hardship and be in danger of homelessness or housing instability, often as a result of job loss or other financial challenges.

How can I show that I am eligible?

In order to establish your eligibility, you may be asked to furnish documentation, including but not limited to proof of income, records of unemployment benefits, proof of residency, a copy of your lease or rental agreement, and evidence of financial distress, such as overdue rent, eviction notices, or outstanding utility bills.

How are rental assistance payments made?

Normally, rental assistance payments are directly issued to the landlord or utility provider, acting on behalf of the tenant. However, in certain instances where the landlord or utility provider declines to accept the payment, the funds may be directly provided to the tenant to ensure the essential payments are met.

Begin your search for Emergency Rental Assistance Programs near you using the search tool below.

State Program Name
AlabamaAlabama Emergency Rental Assistance Program
AlabamaBaldwin County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
AlabamaBirmingham Emergency Rental Assistance Program
AlabamaCity of Huntsville COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program
AlabamaJefferson County Alabama Emergency Rental Assistance Program
AlabamaMadison County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
AlabamaMobile County Treasury Emergency Rental and Utility Assistance
AlabamaEmergency Rental Assistance Montgomery County (ERAMCo)
AlabamaTuscaloosa County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
AlaskaAlaska Housing Relief
ArizonaArizona Emergency Rental Assistance Program
ArizonaChandler Community Action Program
ArizonaGilbert Emergency Rental & Utility Assistance Program
ArizonaGlendale COVID-19 Emergency Rent Assistance Program
ArizonaMaricopa County Emergency Rental Assistance
ArizonaMesa Emergency Rental and Utility Assistance Program
ArizonaPhoenix City Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) Program
ArizonaTucson and Pima County Eviction Prevention/Emergency Rent and Utility Relief Program
ArizonaYuma County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
ArkansasArkansas Rent Relief Program
ArkansasBenton County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
ArkansasPulaski County Emergency Rental Assistance Program (PCERA)
ArkansasWashington County Emergency Rental Assistance
CaliforniaCalifornia's COVID-19 Rent Relief
CaliforniaAlameda County Housing Secure Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ACHS-ERAP)
CaliforniaAnaheim Emergency Rental Assistance Program
CaliforniaChula Vista Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)
CaliforniaKeep Fremont Housed
CaliforniaFresno Emergency Rental Assistance Program
CaliforniaFresno County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
CaliforniaCity of Irvine Emergency Rental Assistance Program
CaliforniaKern County Rent and Utility Assistance Program
CaliforniaLong Beach Emergency Rental Assistance Program
CaliforniaCity of Los Angeles Emergency Renters Assistance Program
CaliforniaMarin County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
CaliforniaMerced County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
CaliforniaMonterey County Emergency Rental and Utility Assistance Program
CaliforniaKeep Oakland Housed
CaliforniaOrange County Emergency Rental Assistance
CaliforniaRent Help Placer
CaliforniaCity of Riverside Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) Program
CaliforniaUnited Lift Rental Assistance Program
CaliforniaSacramento Emergency Rental Assistance (SERA) Program
CaliforniaSan Bernardino Eviction Prevention Program
CaliforniaSan Bernardino County Rent Relief Partnership
CaliforniaCity of San Diego COVID-19 Housing Stability Assistance Program
CaliforniaCounty of San Diego COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program
CaliforniaSan Franciscoís Local Emergency Rental Assistance Program
CaliforniaSan Joaquin County Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)
CaliforniaSanta Ana CARES
CaliforniaCounty of Santa Barbara Emergency Rental & Utility Assistance
CaliforniaSanta Clara County Homelessness Prevention System
CaliforniaSanta Clarita COVID-19 Rental Assistance Program
CaliforniaSolano County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
CaliforniaSonoma County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
CaliforniaStanislaus County and Modesto Emergency Rental Assistance
CaliforniaStockton Emergency Rental Assistance Program
ColoradoColorado Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)
ColoradoAdams County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
ColoradoArapahoe County Rent, Mortgage and Utility Assistance
ColoradoDenver City and County Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)
ColoradoDouglas County Emergency Rental Assistance
ColoradoJefferson County Emergency Assistance COVID-19
ColoradoLarimer County Emergency Rent Assistance Program
ColoradoEmergency Rental and Utility Assistance (ERA)
ConnecticutUniteCT
DelawareDelaware Housing Assistance Program (DEHAP)
District of ColumbiaSTAY DC
FloridaOpportunities for Utilities and Rental Assistance (OUR) Florida
FloridaAlachua County Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)
FloridaBrevard County COVID-19 Emergency Rental and Utility Assistance Program
FloridaBroward County Rental Assistance Program
FloridaClay County Emergency Rental Assistance
FloridaCollier County Assistance Program
FloridaEscambia County Emergency Rental Assistance (ERAP) Program
FloridaHialeah City Emergency Rental Assistance Program
FloridaHillsborough County Rapid Response Recovery Assistance Program (R3)
FloridaCity of Jacksonville Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)
FloridaLake County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
FloridaLee County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
FloridaLeon County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
FloridaManatee County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
FloridaCOVID Assistance Program (CAP)
FloridaMiami Emergency Rental Assistance
FloridaMiami-Dade County Emergency Rental Program 2.3 (ERAP 2.3)
FloridaOkaloosa County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
FloridaOrange County Emergency Rental Assistance
FloridaOrlando Rental Assistance Program
FloridaOsceola County COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program
FloridaPalm Beach County Rental Assistance
FloridaHelping with Emergency Assistance Relief for Tenants (Pasco H.E.A.R.T.)
FloridaPinellas County Emergency Rental Assistance
FloridaPolk County Eviction Prevention Program
FloridaCity of Port St. Lucie Emergency Rental Assistance 2 (ERA2) Program
FloridaSarasota County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
FloridaSeminole County Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) Program
FloridaSt. Johns County Emergency Rental Assistance
FloridaSt. Lucie County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
FloridaSt. Petersburg Rent and Utility Assistance
FloridaVolusia County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
GeorgiaState of Georgia Rental Assistance Program
GeorgiaAtlanta COVID-19 Emergency Housing Assistance Program
GeorgiaAugusta-Richmond County Emergency Rental Assistance
GeorgiaChatham County Rental and Utility Assistance Program
GeorgiaCherokee County Emergency Rental Assistance
GeorgiaClayton County Emergency Rental Assistance
GeorgiaCobb County Rental Assistance Program
GeorgiaDeKalb Tenant-Landlord Assistance Coalition
GeorgiaForsyth County Emergency Rental & Utility Relief Program
GeorgiaFulton County COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program
GeorgiaGwinnett County Project RESET
GeorgiaHall County COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program
GeorgiaHenry County COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Fund
HawaiiDepartment of Hawaiian Home Lands Rent Relief Program
HawaiiState of Hawaii Emergency Rental Assistance
HawaiiHawai'i County Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)
HawaiiHonolulu County Rent and Utility Relief Program
HawaiiKaua'i COVID-19 Rental and Utility Assistance Program
HawaiiMaui County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
IdahoIdaho Housing and Finance Association's Housing Preservation Application
IdahoBoise - Ada County Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)
IllinoisIllinois Rental Payment Program
IllinoisChampaign County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
IllinoisChicago Emergency Rental Assistance Program
IllinoisCook County COVID-19 Recovery Rental Assistance
IllinoisLake County Federal Emergency Rental Assistance (FERA)
IllinoisMadison County Emergency Rental Assistance
IllinoisMcHenry County Emergency Utility and Rental Assistance Program
IllinoisWinnebago County Emergency Rental Assistance
IndianaIndiana Emergency Rental Assistance
IndianaElkhart County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
IndianaFort Wayne Emergency Rental Assistance Program
IndianaHamilton County Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)
IndianaIndianapolis Rental Assistance Program
IndianaLake County Emergency Assistance (LCERA) program
IndianaSt. Joseph Countyís Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA)
IowaIowa Rent and Utility Assistance Program
IowaLinn County Emergency Rental Assistance
IowaEmergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)
KansasKansas Emergency Rental Assistance
KansasWichita Emergency Rental Assistance Program (WERAP)
KansasWichita-Sedgwick County Community Action Partnership Emergency Assistance Program
KentuckyHealthy at Home Eviction Relief Fund
KentuckyHousing Stabilization Partnership Program
KentuckyJefferson County Rental Assistance
LouisianaLouisiana Emergency Rental Assistance Program (LERAP)
LouisianaEast Baton Rouge Emergency Rental Assistance Program
LouisianaCaddo Parish's Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) Program
LouisianaCalcasieu Parish Emergency Rental Assistance Program
LouisianaJefferson Parish Covid Emergency Rental Assistance Program
LouisianaLafayette Parish Emergency Rental Assistance
LouisianaNew Orleans Emergency Rental Assistance Program (NOERAP)
LouisianaSt. Tammany Rental Assistance Program (STRAP)
MaineMaineHousing Emergency Rent Relief Program
MarylandMaryland Emergency Rental Assistance Program
MarylandArundel Community Development Services Eviction Prevention Program (EPP)
MarylandBaltimore City Eviction Prevention Program
MarylandCOVID-19 Eviction Prevention Program
MarylandFrederick County Rental Assistance Program
MarylandHarford County COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance
MarylandHoward County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
MarylandMontgomery CountyRent Relief Program
MarylandPrince George's County Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)
MarylandThe Strategic Targeted Eviction Prevention (STEP) Program
MassachusettsMassachusetts Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)
MassachusettsCity of Bostonís Rental Relief Fund
MichiganMichigan COVID Emergency Rental Assistance (CERA)
MichiganDetroit COVID Emergency Rental Assistance Program
MichiganMacomb County COVID Emergency Rental Assistance (CERA) Program
MichiganWayne County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
MinnesotaMinnesota COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance
MinnesotaSaint Paul - Ramsey County Rental Assistance
MinnesotaThe Zero Balance Project
MississippiHarrison County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
MississippiHinds County Rental Aid
MissouriMissouri State Assistance for Housing Relief (SAFHR) Program
MissouriClay County Emergency Rental Assistance
MissouriGreene County Emergency Rental Assistance
MissouriJackson County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
MissouriJefferson County Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)
MissouriKansas City Emergency Rental Assistance Program
MissouriCity of St. Louis Emergency Rental Assistance Program
MissouriSt. Louis County Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)
MissouriSaint Louis Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) Program
MontanaMontana Emergency Rental Assistance
NebraskaNebraska Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) Program
NebraskaDouglas County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
NebraskaLancaster County Emergency Relief Assistance Program
NebraskaCity of Lincoln Emergency Rental Assistance Program
NebraskaOmaha ñ MACCH Rental Assistance Program
NevadaNevada CARES Housing Assistance Program (CHAP)
NevadaClark County CARES Housing Assistance Program (CHAP)
NevadaRental Assistance For Tenants (RAFT)
NevadaWashoe County CARES Housing Assistance Program (CHAP)
New HampshireNew Hampshire Emergency Rental Assistance Program (NHERAP)
New HampshireRockingham County Emergency Rental Assistance Program (RC ERAP)
New JerseyNew Jersey COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program
New JerseyAtlantic County Emergency Rental Assitance Program
New JerseyBergen County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
New JerseyCamden County RECOVERS Rental Assistance Program
New JerseyEssex County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
New JerseyGloucester County Emergency Rental Assistance
New JerseyHudson County CARES II Eviction Prevention
New JerseyJersey City COVID-19 Rent Relief Program
New JerseyMercer County Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)
New JerseyMiddlesex County COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program
New JerseyMonmouth County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
New JerseyMayor Barakaís Emergency Rental Assistance Program
New JerseyOcean County Residential Emergency Rental Assistance Program
New JerseyPassaic County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
New JerseySomerset County Emergency Rental Assistance 2
New JerseyUnion County Emergency Rental Relief Program
New MexicoNew Mexico Emergency Rental Assistance Program
New MexicoBernCo Relief of Emergency Needs for Tenants (RENT) Assistance Program
New MexicoDoÒa Ana County Emergency Rent & Utilities Assistance Program
New YorkNew York State Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)
New YorkTown of Hempstead Emergency Rental Assistance Program
New YorkIslip Emergency Rental Assistance Program
New YorkEviction Prevention Pilot Initiative - 2.0
New YorkOnondaga County Emergency Rental Relief Program
New YorkTown of Oyster Bay Emergency Rental Assistance Program
New YorkYonkers Emergency Rental Assistance
North CarolinaNorth Carolina's Housing Opportunities and Prevention of Evictions Program (HOPE)
North CarolinaBuncombe County COVID Housing Assistance Program
North CarolinaCabarrus County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
North CarolinaFayetteville Cumberland Emergency Rental Assistance Program
North CarolinaCity of Durham Rent Relief Program
North CarolinaDurham Emergency Rental Assistance Program
North CarolinaCity of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County ERAP Pandemic Assistance
North CarolinaGaston County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
North CarolinaGreensboro Emergency Rental and Utility Assistance Program
North CarolinaGuilford Cares Rental/Utility Assistance Program
North CarolinaJohnston County COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program
North CarolinaCity of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County RAMP
North CarolinaNew Hanover Emergency Rental Assistance Program
North CarolinaUnion County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
North CarolinaHouse Wake! COVID-19 Financial Assistance Program
North DakotaND Rent Help
OhioOhio Emergency Rental Assistance (Home Relief)
OhioButler County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
OhioCAA Emergency Rent Assistance 2021
OhioClermont County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
OhioThe Hope Fund 2021 (CITY)
OhioNortheast Ohio Rent Help
OhioPathways to Hope
OhioThe Hope Fund 2021 (COUNTY)
OhioHamilton County Rent and Utility Relief Program
OhioLake County Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)
OhioLorain County 2021 Emergency Rental Assistance Program
OhioMahoning County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
OhioMontgomery County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
OhioStark County Emerge Housing Assistance Program (Home Relief Grant 3.0)
OhioSummit County Cares
OhioToledo Lucas County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
OhioWarren County Rental Assistance Programs
OklahomaOklahoma Emergency Rental Assistance Program
OklahomaCity of Tulsa Emergency Rental Assistance Program
OregonOregon Emergency Rental Assistance Program (OERAP)
OregonClackamas County Emergency Rental Assistance
OregonEmergency Rent Relief of Lane County (ERRLC)
OregonCOVID Assistance Program
OregonMultnomah County COVID-19 Rent Relief Program
OregonWashington County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
PennsylvaniaPennsylvania Emergency Rental Assistance Program
PennsylvaniaAllegheny County Emergency Rental Assistance
PennsylvaniaBerks County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
PennsylvaniaBucks County Emergency Rental Assistance (BERA)
PennsylvaniaChester County Emergency Rent & Utility Assistance Program
PennsylvaniaCumberland County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
PennsylvaniaDauphin County Emergency Rent and Utility Assistance Program
PennsylvaniaDelaware County Emergency Rental Assistance (DELCO ERA)
PennsylvaniaErie County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
PennsylvaniaLackawanna County Emergency Rental Assistance
PennsylvaniaLancaster CountyCOVID-19 Emergency Rental and Utility Assistance
PennsylvaniaLehigh County Emergency Rental Assistance
PennsylvaniaLuzerne County COVID Rent and Utility Assistance Program
PennsylvaniaMontgomery County Rent and Utility Relief Program
PennsylvaniaNorthampton County Community Mediation and Eviction Diversion Program
PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia Rental Assistance Phase 4
PennsylvaniaWashington County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
PennsylvaniaWestmoreland County Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)
PennsylvaniaYork Countyís Emergency Rent Assistance Program (ERAP)
Rhode IslandRhode Island Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program
South CarolinaSouth Carolina Stay Plus
South CarolinaAnderson County AIM COVID Relief Fund
South CarolinaBerkeley County Emergency Rental Assistance
South CarolinaCharleston County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
South CarolinaGreenville Emergency Rental Assistance Program
South CarolinaHorry County Emergency Rental Assistance program
South CarolinaSpartanburg County Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)
South CarolinaRichland County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
South DakotaSouth Dakota CARES Housing Assistance Program
TennesseeTennessee Housing Development Authority COVID-19 Rent Relief
TennesseeDavidson County HOPE (Housing, Opportunity, Partnership and Employment) Program
TennesseeKnox Housing Assistance Program
TennesseeRutherford County COVID-19 Rent Relief Program
TennesseeShelby County COVID-19 Emergency Rental and Utility Assistance Program
TexasArlington Cares Assistance
TexasAustin Relief of Emergency Needs for Tenants (RENT) Assistance Program
TexasBell County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
TexasBrazoria County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
TexasBrazos County Rental Assistance Program
TexasCameron County Emergency Rental Assistance
TexasCollin County Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)
TexasCorpus Christi Emergency Rental Assistance Program
TexasCity of Dallas COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program
TexasDallas County Emergency Housing Assistance Program (EHAP)
TexasDenton County Eviction Prevention Program
TexasEl Paso Rent Help
TexasFort Bend County Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) Program
TexasFort Worth City Emergency Rental Assistance
TexasFrisco City Emergency Rental Assistance Program
TexasGalveston County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
TexasCity of Garland Emergency Rental Assistance Programs
TexasHouston-Harris County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
TexasHays County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
TexasHidalgo County Rent Relief Program
TexasCity of Irving Emergency Rental Assistance Program
TexasJefferson County Emergency Rent Relief Program
TexasLaredo COVID-19 Rental Assistance Program
TexasCity of Lubbock Emergency Rental Assistance Program
TexasMcLennan County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
TexasNueces County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
TexasCity of Plano Emergency Rental Assistance Program
TexasSan Antonio Emergency Rental Assistance Program
TexasSmith County COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program
TexasTarrant County COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program
TexasTravis County Rental Assistance Program
TexasWebb County Rental Assistance
TexasMontgomery County Covid-19 Housing Assistance Program (CHAP)
UtahUtah Rent Relief
VermontVermont Emergency Rental Assistance Program (VERAP)
VirginiaVirginia Rent Relief Program
VirginiaChesterfield Emergency Rent and Utility Assistance (CERA)
VirginiaFairfax County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
WashingtonWashington State Treasury Rent Assistance Program (T-RAP)
WashingtonBenton & Franklin Counties Rent Assistance Program
WashingtonClark County Treasury Rent Assistance
WashingtonKing County Eviction Prevention and Rental Assistance Program
WashingtonKitsap Eviction Prevention Assistance
WashingtonLewis County Emergency Rental Assistance
WashingtonPierce County Rental Assistance
WashingtonSkagit County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
WashingtonSnohomish County Emergency Rental Assistance
WashingtonCity of Spokane Emergency Rental Assistance
WashingtonSpokane County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
WashingtonThurston County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
WashingtonWhatcom Rental Assistance Program
WashingtonYakima County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
West VirginiaWest Virginia Mountaineer Rental Assistance Program
WisconsinWisconsin Emergency Rental Assistance (WERA)
WisconsinNortheast Wisconsin Emergency Rental Assistance
WisconsinDane CORE Program
WisconsinMilwaukee Emergency Rental Assistance (MERA) program
WisconsinMilwaukee County Rental Assistance Program
WisconsinWaukesha County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
WyomingWyoming Emergency Rental Assistance Program

Carol Bianchi

Carol Bianchi is a staff writer for Affordable Housing Hub. Her role includes sourcing up to date information and news on affordable housing programs within the U.S. and bringing that information to the readers of Affordable Housing Hub.