Emergency rental assistance is still available in 2026, even though the federal ERA1 and ERA2 programs stopped taking new applications after September 30, 2025. State and local governments, HUD-funded homelessness prevention grants, community action agencies, and nonprofits continue to pay overdue rent and utilities for households that qualify. The fastest way in is a phone call; the next steps are gathering a small stack of paperwork and applying before an eviction moves further along.1
Where to Look First
Call 211. The United Way’s 211 line handles more requests for housing help than any other category, and operators can tell you which programs in your area are open and taking applications right now. You can also search at 211.org. The U.S. Treasury now directs renters and landlords to the interagency housing portal hosted by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to find current rental assistance in their area.
Several federal funding streams keep local programs running:
- Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG). HUD funds local governments and nonprofits to provide short- and medium-term rental assistance as homelessness prevention. ESG targets households at risk of homelessness with incomes below 30 percent of the area median income.
- HOME-ARP. Authorized under the American Rescue Plan, HOME-ARP funds tenant-based rental assistance for people who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, fleeing domestic violence, or veterans meeting those criteria.
- LIHEAP. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program helps with utility and home energy costs. Eligibility varies by state, but the program is active and funded in 2026.
- State and city programs. Many jurisdictions built their own rental assistance programs using federal block grants or state funds, and they often follow eligibility rules similar to the original ERA framework.
Community action agencies, funded partly through federal Community Services Block Grants, are one of the most reliable entry points. They administer several assistance programs at once and can often steer you toward whichever fund still has money.
Who Qualifies
Most programs ask you to show three things: low income, a financial hardship, and risk of losing your housing.
The income ceiling is usually 80 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI) for your household size and location. AMI varies significantly by region, so a household that qualifies in one area may not qualify in another. Some programs use lower thresholds. HUD’s Emergency Solutions Grants require income below 30 percent of AMI for people who meet the “at risk of homelessness” definition.
Programs still following the ERA model give priority to households earning below 50 percent of AMI and to anyone unemployed for at least 90 days before applying. If you fall into either group, your application moves toward the front of the line.
Financial hardship means something specific happened that made paying rent difficult: job loss, reduced hours, major medical bills, or another significant setback. You don’t need to be completely without income. Many programs accept self-attestation, meaning you sign a statement describing your situation instead of producing extensive financial records. That statement typically carries the same legal weight as testimony under oath, so accuracy matters.
Housing instability is documented with a past-due rent notice, an eviction filing, a utility shutoff warning, or a letter from your landlord stating you owe back rent. Some programs specifically require an active court eviction case; others accept any credible evidence that you may lose your housing without help.
What the Money Covers
Emergency rental assistance is broader than back rent. Most programs will pay:
- Rent arrears, often stretching back to when the hardship began.
- Current and upcoming rent. Under the ERA framework, future rent could be approved only three months at a time, with reapplication after that.
- Utilities and home energy costs, including overdue and current bills for electricity, gas, water, and trash removal.
- Reasonable late fees on unpaid rent or utilities.
- Security deposits on a new unit if you need to relocate to more affordable housing.
Current state and local programs set their own caps, typically ranging from several thousand dollars up to around $25,000 in total assistance depending on the jurisdiction and household size. Payments almost always go directly to your landlord or utility company, not to you.
Documents to Have Ready
Gathering paperwork before you apply prevents the most common delay: a file sent back for missing documents. Nearly every program will want:
- Government-issued ID for each adult in the household.
- A signed lease showing tenant and landlord names, the rent amount, and the property address.
- Proof of income: recent pay stubs, a W-2, last year’s tax return, or unemployment benefit letters. If your income recently dropped, include documentation of both the old and new amounts.
- Evidence of hardship, such as an unemployment determination, medical bills, or a layoff notice.
- Proof of housing instability: a past-due notice, eviction filing, utility shutoff warning, or written statement from your landlord.
- Landlord contact information, including mailing address, phone, email, and tax ID or Social Security number, so the program can send payment.
- An arrears ledger from your landlord showing each month of unpaid rent and any late fees.
Some programs accept self-attestation when records are hard to obtain, but misrepresenting facts on a federal assistance application is a criminal offense.
How to Apply
Most programs run through an online portal where you upload documents and complete forms electronically. If internet access is a barrier, many agencies accept mailed applications or in-person drop-off at local government offices or community action agencies. Save the confirmation number you receive after submitting. That number is your reference for every follow-up.
Processing times vary. Some agencies reach an initial determination in under 30 days; others take 45 days or more depending on volume and staffing. Check your email and portal regularly during this period. Requests for extra documentation are common, and a fast response keeps your file moving.
If approved, you and your landlord will each get a notice showing the total payment amount and which months are being covered. Payment goes by electronic transfer or check to the landlord or utility company. Keep copies of every piece of correspondence in case a dispute comes up later.
If Your Landlord Won’t Participate
A landlord who ignores the program or refuses the funds does not automatically disqualify you. Under the ERA1 rules many current programs still follow, the administering agency must make reasonable outreach efforts before paying you directly. That outreach is complete when any of the following happens:
- A written request is mailed to the landlord and no response comes within seven calendar days.
- The agency makes at least three contact attempts by phone, text, or email over a five-day period and gets no response.
- The landlord confirms in writing that they don’t want to participate.
Once outreach is documented, funds can be issued directly to you. A direct payment must be used for the housing expenses the grant was approved to cover; spending it on anything else creates serious legal exposure. If your landlord is unresponsive, start documenting every attempt you make to reach them from day one. Getting a written agreement to participate before you apply, when possible, speeds the whole process.
Eviction Proceedings While You Wait
No federal rule automatically freezes an eviction while a rental assistance application is under review. Some states and localities have enacted laws or court rules that pause eviction cases when a tenant has a pending application. The CFPB advises tenants facing eviction to ask the judge or court clerk whether the eviction order can be placed on hold while an application is being processed. Even without an automatic stay, many judges will grant a continuance if you can show that funds are likely on the way. Bring your application confirmation and any correspondence from the agency to court.
Taxes
Emergency rental assistance you receive as a tenant is not taxable income. The IRS has confirmed that ERA payments, whether made directly to you, to your landlord, or to a utility company on your behalf, are excluded from gross income for members of the eligible household. You don’t need to report them on your tax return. Landlords are treated differently: rental payments received through an assistance program are taxable income like any other rent.
Consequences of False Information
Submitting false statements on a federal assistance application is a crime under 18 U.S.C. § 1001, carrying up to five years in prison. Fines can reach $250,000 under 18 U.S.C. § 3571, which sets that amount as the maximum for any felony. These penalties apply to individual applicants who fabricate income figures, forge documents, or misrepresent their living situation. Using approved funds for a purpose other than the one specified in your notice can also trigger fraud charges and a demand for full repayment.
If You Are Denied
A denial usually comes with a reason: income above the threshold, missing documentation, or an incomplete application. If the problem is paperwork, you can often resubmit rather than start over. Ask whether the program has a formal appeals process. Some do, and the filing window is short, often 30 days or less from the denial notice.
Other programs may have different eligibility rules even if the one that denied you won’t reconsider. Call 211 and describe what happened; the operator can point you to alternatives you may not have found yourself. If you’re facing an active eviction while sorting out a denial, contact a local legal aid organization. Many offer free representation in eviction cases and can sometimes negotiate directly with your landlord while you keep looking for assistance.