Photo by Galen Crout on Unsplash
The COVID-19 pandemic has had wide-spread and oftentimes devastating impacts. With city-wide shutdowns all over the country, many people struggled to pay rent. At the height of these shutdowns, many governments imposed eviction moratoriums.
Today, however, most of these eviction moratoriums have ended, leaving people struggling to afford current and back rent. According to a report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, around 17% of renting adults live in a household behind on rent. This number jumps to 25% for households that include children.
Fortunately, there are some programs to assist renters.
So - where can you find rental assistance if you need it?
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: “Find rental assistance programs in your area”
Available in English and Spanish
U.S. Department of the Treasury: Emergency Rental Assistance Program
Includes links to commitment letters to assist prospective renters and information on ERA allocation.
Two programs, the ERA1 and the ERA2, have provided over $46 billion in rental assistance since December 2020.
National Low Income Housing Coalition Dashboard
Track all programs related to the Emergency Rental Assistance Program
Find programs at state, county, and city level
Allows you to filter by location, program status, and program attributes
While most of these resources were created in response to the COVID pandemic, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has many non-COVID specific programs to assist renters.
HUD: Rental Assistance
HUD has resources to help people find apartments with reduced rent, public housing, and rental vouchers.
Navigating rental issues can be a difficult and time-consuming process, but as a renter, you have protected rights. Make sure you know the Fair Housing Rights and Obligations and Tenant Rights for your state.
For more help, call ISD at (833) 473-2020 or email HelpDesk@isdus.org.