St. Louis County Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)

Individuals needing help staying in their home can apply for Emergency Rental Assistance beginning Monday, April 5, 2021.

The COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) will provide back rent and temporary rental assistance to low- and moderate-income households that have had a loss of income, have qualified for unemployment benefits, faced significant costs, or experienced finances hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Applicants may be eligible for up to a maximum of 12 months of emergency rental assistance to help pay for back rent and future rent to the extent that funds are available. Households that have received assistance through previous programs but have not yet received the maximum 12 months of emergency rental assistance can apply for this funding.

Financial assistance for future rent will be disbursed three months at a time. Individuals applying must meet all applicable ERAP income and eligibility requirements.

Eligibility Criteria

Individuals must be 18 years of age or older to apply or be an emancipated minor. Only one application per household will be accepted. Households must meet the following eligibility criteria to qualify for assistance:

·    Qualify for unemployment or have experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs, or experienced a financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic

·    Demonstrate a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability

·    Have a household income at or below 80 percent of the area medium income

·    Be a St. Louis County resident

 

The program will only pay for back rent owed after March 13, 2020. Property managers or owners of a residential dwelling may apply for assistance on behalf of a tenant. The landlord must:

·    Obtain the signature of the tenant on the application, which may be documented electronically

·    Must provide documentation of the application to the tenant to notify the tenant that the application has been submitted.

 

Funding for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program was made available through the Consolidated Appropriations Act, which was signed into law on December 27, 2020, and established the program. The ERA program makes $25 billion to assist households that are unable to pay, or have difficulty making timely payments or rent and utilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. St. Louis County was awarded $29.7 M of these funds.

ERAP applications can be submitted online beginning Monday, April 5, 2021, at 8 a.m. A call center will be open beginning March 29, 2021, to answer questions prior to the program opening. The call center number is 314-806-0910.

To apply for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, click here. For more information regarding the ERAP, click here.

For individuals with limited English proficiency, call 314-806-0910 for assistance.

 

Additional rental assistance can be found here:

·    COVID-19 and Fair Housing Rights

·    Evictions, Repairs and Health Concerns During the COVID-19 Pandemic

·    United Way 211, 1-800-427-4626, their COVID-19 dedicated page has additional information

·    Urban League: 314-615-3640

·    Salvation Army: 314-464-3000 (funds are based on zip code)

 

 

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