Emergency Rental Assistance Program

Looking for rental assistance?

Renters and landlords can find out what emergency rental assistance covers, how it works, and who’s eligible on the interagency housing portal hosted by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

Emergency Rental Assistance Program

Keeping Families in their Homes

Even as the American economy continues its recovery from the devastating impact of the pandemic, millions of Americans face deep rental debt and fear evictions and the loss of basic housing security. COVID-19 has exacerbated an affordable housing crisis that predated the pandemic and that has exacerbated deep disparities that threaten the strength of an economic recovery that must work for everyone.

To meet this need, the Emergency Rental Assistance program makes funding available to assist households that are unable to pay rent or utilities. Two separate programs have been established: ERA1 provides up to $25 billion under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, which was enacted on December 27, 2020, and ERA2 provides up to $21.55 billion under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which was enacted on March 11, 2021. The funds are provided directly to states, U.S. territories, local governments, and (in the case of ERA1) Indian tribes. Grantees use the funds to provide assistance to eligible households through existing or newly created rental assistance programs.

View an index of all emergency rental assistance programs to find assistance near you.

Recent updates

December

Reallocation: On December 2, Treasury published the template letter for requesting excess funds to be voluntarily reallocated.

November

Reporting: On November 29th, Treasury released the October ERA report (spreadsheet updated 12/6/21). Emergency Rental Assistance Program Surpasses 2.5 Million Payments to Renters and Landlords.
Promising practices: On November 18, 2021, Treasury updated promising practices for utilities, including an updated discussion about working with energy providers and other utility assistance programs (like LIHEAP). Treasury also updated the example screens for COVID-19 financial impact and housing instability.
Program and service design: On November 5, 2021, Treasury added guidelines for fact-specific proxies and an example of an ERA application flow for grantees exploring application process improvements. In addition, example screens have been added and updated, including screens for rent and utility assistance requests.
Promising practices: On November 5, 2021, Treasury updated the promising practices for take-away PDF of the Eviction Diversion Maturity Model.

October

Reporting: On October 25th, Treasury released the September ERA report more than 510,000 households received Emergency Rental Assistance in September, totaling nearly $2.8 billion in payments
Reallocation: On October 25th, Deputy Secretary Adeyemo published a letter to all grantees to highlight additional detail on the reallocation process.
Reallocation: On October 25th, Treasury published the following reallocation forms. TO EXPEDITE YOUR SUBMISSION, please ensure you (1) download the applicable reallocation form, (2) use the electronic signature feature, and (3) include your ERA number in the submission email subject line for faster processing.
- Obligation Certification form; email with subject line: “65% Obligation Certification – [Name of Grantee] – [ERA Number: ERA-XXXXXXXXXX]”
- Program Improvement Plan form; email with subject line: “Performance Improvement Plan – [Name of Grantee] - [ERA Number: ERA-XXXXXXXXXX]”
- Reallocated Funds form; email with subject line: “Request for Reallocated Funds – [Name of Grantee] - [ERA Number: ERA-XXXXXXXXXX]”
Reallocation: On October 4th, Treasury published reallocation guidance and a letter from Deputy Secretary Adeyemo was sent to ERA grantees about the reallocation guidance.
Reallocation Summary: On October 4, Treasury published a summary on ERA reallocation highlights .

September

Reallocation: On September 24, Deputy Secretary Adeyemo published a letter to all grantees providing further insight into how Treasury intends to approach the reallocation process.
Program and service design: On September 24, 2021, Treasury added a section on ERA program and service design which, includes new Guidelines for ERA program online applications including example screens and guidelines for program websites.
Updated monthly reporting: On September 24, 2021, Treasury released the August ERA report showing more than 420,000 households received Emergency Rental Assistance in August, totaling over $2.3 billion in payments

August

FAQs: On August 25, 2021, FAQs were revised to provide further clarification on the use of self-attestation and to describe methods of speeding payments to eligible households.
Promising practices: On August 4, 2021, Treasury updated promising practices around eviction diversion including the addition of a maturity model and example self-attestation forms.
Reporting: All Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA1 and ERA2) Recipients have been notified of the requirement to submit Q2 partial reports via Treasury’s Portal by August 6, 2021.

June

FAQs: On June 24, 2021, Treasury updated its previously issued ERA FAQs to provide updates regarding ERA1 and ERA2 programs. All eligible entities should review these FAQs, which provide important information regarding the ERA.