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.
Find rental assistance
View an index of all emergency rental assistance programs to find assistance near you.
Recent updates
January
- Promising practices: On January 14, 2022, Treasury published promising practices for using commitment letters to assist prospective renters. These practices highlight the opportunity to help those who need to prove to a prospective landlord that they can access future rent assistance in order to be stably housed.
- Reporting: On January 7, 2022, Treasury released the November ERA report. Emergency Rental Assistance Disbursed $2.9 Billion in November in Largest Month for Program
- Reallocation: On January 7, 2022, Treasury updated forms relevant for the second round of reallocation:
- Request for reallocated funds; Grantees that want to be considered for additional ERA1 funds in this next round of reallocations must submit the Request for Reallocated Funds form to Treasury’s portal by January 21, 2022.
- Reallocated Funds Form with Exhibit C- Voluntary Reallocated Funds
- Reallocation: On January 7, Treasury released the reallocation amounts for ERA1 Round 1 Reallocation and Voluntary Reallocation
- Program and service design: On January 7, 2022, Treasury updated its guidelines for program websites to include resources for grantees to improve access for those with limited English proficiency
December
- Report fraud, waste, and abuse: On December 16, 2021, Treasury added details on how to report fraud, waste, and abuse for ERA grantees and applicants.
- Reallocation: Reallocated Funds Form with Exhibit C- Voluntary Reallocated Funds
- Reallocation: On December 9, Treasury published the template letter for requesting excess funds to be voluntarily reallocated.
- Promising practices: On December 9, Treasury updated the promising practices for fact-specific proxies to highlight grantee use of proxies, detail the advantages to using this practice, and considerations to take when implementing a proxy.
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.
- Obligation Certification form
- Program Improvement Plan form
- Reallocated Funds form (which is now superseded by an updated form)
- 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.
Press releases
January
November
- November 29th Emergency Rental Assistance Program Surpasses 2.5 Million Payments to Renters and Landlords
October
September
- September 24th More than 420,000 Households Received Emergency Rental Assistance in August, Totaling Over $2.3 Billion in Payments
- September 14th Treasury Releases Additional Emergency Rental Assistance Funds to High-Performing State and Local Government Grantees
August
- August 27th Secretary of the Treasury Yellen, Attorney General Garland and Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development Fudge Sent Letter to Governors, Mayors and State Courts Urging Use of Emergency Rental Assistance Over Eviction
- August 27th READOUT: Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo’s Roundtable Discussion with Emergency Rental Assistance Program Grantees and Call with National Advocacy and Housing Organizations
- August 25th Treasury Announces Seven Additional Policies to Encourage State and Local Governments to Expedite Emergency Rental Assistance
- August 18th READOUT: Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo’s visit to Maryland Emergency Rental Assistance grantee
July
- July 28th Treasury Joins Administration Call to Action to Alert Americans to Emergency Rental Assistance and Promote CFPB “Rental Assistance Finder”
- July 21st Treasury Data: Amount of June Emergency Rental Assistance Resources to Households More Than All Previous Months Combined
- July 9th READOUT: Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo’s Roundtable Discussion with Emergency Rental Assistance Program Grantees
June
May
- May 21st Treasury Distributes $6.1 billion to Assist Renters and Landlords Through Emergency Rental Assistance Program
- May 7th Treasury Announces Additional $21.6 Billion in Emergency Rental Assistance Allocation