The New Hampshire Emergency Rental Assistance Program is federally funded and was created on March 15, 2021 for the purpose of assisting renting households that are experiencing difficulty paying rent and utility bills due to the impact of the COVID pandemic.

If you need help with eviction, please contact 603 Legal Aid. They provide free, civil, legal services to individuals with limited means.

How to Qualify

Who is eligible?
To be eligible for rent and/or utility bill assistance, you must fall into the following categories:
1.One or more members of the household have qualified for unemployment benefits, have experienced a reduction in income, have suffered significant cost, and/or have had financial hardship due to COVID-19. (You are not required to be receiving unemployment benefits at the time of application to be eligible for assistance.)
2. The household must be at risk of homelessness, experiencing housing instability, or paying in excess of 30% of their income on rent and utilities.

This program is not for homeowners. If you are facing foreclosure, or having difficulty paying your mortgage, utilities, insurance, or taxes, call 211.

How do I apply?
1. You can apply using the online application on each of the Community Action Partnership websites. Click here to find the CAP agency that serves the area in which you live.
2. You can request a paper application by calling 211 or your CAP agency.
3. You will be given the information you need to collect the necessary documentation.
4. Applications are processed in the order in which they are received.

The state emergency rental assistance program helps renters by:
1. Covering past due and future rent, utilities which include electricity, home heating, sewer, water, trash, internet services, and relocation costs. Relocation costs include application fees, utility hook-ups, and security deposits.’
2, Assisting households with past due rent dating back to April 1, 2020 and future rent for a time period that may not exceed 12 months (15 months in cases of housing instability - subject to the availability of funds) You are not required to request rent assistance in order to get utility bill assistance.
3. Pays funds directly to landlords and utility companies.
4. Allows the landlord to assist the tenant in filing the application. Information from both are required on the application.

FAQ

Tenants
Is there a deadline to apply?
Applications for rent and utility assistance will be accepted on a rolling basis through December 31, 2021 as long as funds are available.

Is there a limit to the amount of assistance you can get?
No, there is no cap. Your lease determines the amount of rent you receive, and assistance for your utility bill is based on the actual bill and estimates of future utility bills. This program does not pay for costs that have already been paid by another program.

Who gets the assistance money?
Funds are paid directly to landlords and utility providers, if possible. If your landlord refuses to participate in the program, the funds will be sent to you. Internet payments and other housing costs will be paid to you.

I have a job and some income. Can I still apply?
Yes, as long as you meet the other requirements. Funds are available for renters all across the state whose incomes are at or below 80% of the area median. To find the income limit where you live, click here.

I live in a mobile home and rent the lot it sits on. Can I get help for the lot rent?
Yes. The lot rent is eligible for assistance, but park fees are not.

I am renting with an option to purchase. Can I apply for assistance?
Yes, as long as:
1. No one in the household is a signer or co-signer on the mortgage.
2. No one in the household holds the deed to the property.
3. No one in the household has exercised the option to buy.

What happens if you don’t have a lease?
You and your landlord can sign a Tenant at Will agreement or you can submit written proof of your rental agreement.

Landlords
What documentation do landlords have to provide?
1. W-9 for payment
2. Rent ledger for each tenant applying
3. Lease, rental agreement, or tenant at will agreement

Is there a limit on how many tenants I can submit applications for?
No.

How do landlords get paid?
After the renter’s application is approved, the landlord will receive a check in the mail. The address on the W-9 is where the check will be sent. In some cases, the landlord will receive two checks - one for past due rent and one for future rent.