The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development administers the federal emergency rental assistance program in two different ways. 1) to local jurisdictions through the Maryland Eviction Partnership Program in support of local efforts to assist renters and 2) to property managers on behalf of their tenants living in affordable housing that receive federal or state funding through the Assisted Housing Relief Program.

How to Qualify


Who is eligible?
State emergency rental assistance is available to households that live in multifamily rental communities receiving state or federal funds from Maryland Housing and Community Development. Households must reside in one of the communities listed here.

Tenants must contact their property managers to get application information. Applications will be collected and assembled by the managers and submitted to the department as one combined application for the community. Managers are required to submit applications through the online portal.

Required documents for each household include:
1. A rent ledger as proof of late rent payments
2. The following documents must be kept for a minimum of five years and made available to the department for review within three business days of the request:

  • Fully executed current lease including primary leaseholder and household size

  • Proof of income (pay stubs, W-2s, tax forms, bank statements)

  • Renter certification

  • Renter worksheet

How do I apply?
Local jurisdictions are operating their programs independently. Click here to see individual counties' instructions and for application information.

Priority Assistance
The U.S. Treasury requires Maryland to give priority assistance to two groups.
1. Households whose income is at or below 50% of the area median.
2. Households with one or more members unemployed at the time of the application or who have been unemployed for 90 days or longer.

Local programs receiving funding through the State of Maryland are required to process, approve applications, and give assistance to these two groups first. The applications of other eligible households will be processed after that.

For bulk tenant rent assistance programs, receiving funding through the State of Maryland, tenants in income based housing and/or those having large numbers of tenants with incomes at or below 50% of the area median are given priority assistance. These include:

1. Programs run by Public Housing Authorities such as Section 8/Housing Choice Voucher or Public Housing
2. Housing developments that have received assistance from the Department of Housing and Community Development such as low income tax credit properties
3. Class C and D multifamily housing properties. These properties are located in census tracts found to be high in rental assistance need by the Urban Institute. Class C and D properties typically house lower income households.

FAQ


How do I know if my properties are eligible?
This program is limited to properties with current income restrictions and multifamily funding through the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development. Check the Assisted Housing Relief Program Eligible Properties Database for your property.

If you don’t find your property on this list and believe you are eligible, email dhcd.rentrelief@maryland.gov. Please include the property name, DNCD loan number, and funding source. Your request will be reviewed, and if approved, you will receive an ID number.

How do I know whether or not my tenants are eligible for the program?
1. Tenants must have valid leases at eligible properties.
2. One or more household member is eligible for unemployment benefits, has experienced reduced income, incurred significant cost, or suffered other financial hardship related to COVID.
3. The total household income does not exceed 80% of the area median.
4. One or more household member is at risk of homelessness or housing instability.

How is 80% of area median income defined?
This program uses HUD’s definition of annual income to define the number. The following is the 80% median for the State of Maryland:
1 person - $55,950
2 persons - $63,900
3 persons - $71,800
4 persons - $79,900
5 persons - $86,300
6 persons - $92,700
7 persons - $99,100
8 persons- $105,450

How is income verified?
Documentation may include pay stubs, bank statements, tax forms, or a statement from an employer. Both annual income and monthly income documentation is acceptable.

If a tenant has past due rent that goes back before January 1, 2021, can it be included?
This program only covers past due rent since January 1, 2021. You must forgive any past due rent prior to January 1, 2021 in order to receive assistance. Delinquency verification must be recorded monthly and not in a lump sum.

Can property managers include non-rent expenses, such as pet fees and washer/dryer fees in the monthly delinquencies?
No. Assistance for past due rent cannot exceed the unit rent.

If a tenant has moved out owing past due rent can the property manager apply on their behalf?
No. The tenant must be living in the unit at the time of the application.