Emergency rental assistance programs are administered at the state and county level — there is no single national application. Each state runs its own ERA program with its own income limits, application portal, funding availability, and processing timelines. This page links to the primary rental assistance program in each state and explains what to expect when you apply.
Need immediate help? Call 211 to reach rental assistance programs in your area. 211 operators have live information on which programs are currently funded in your county — funding availability changes frequently. Veterans can call 877-424-3838. This article is for informational purposes — apply through official program channels.
How State Rental Assistance Programs Work
Federal Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) funds flow from the U.S. Treasury to state housing agencies, which then distribute them through state-run portals or sub-grant them to county agencies. This means your actual application may go to:
- Your state housing finance agency (a single statewide portal)
- Your county housing or social services department (a county-level portal)
- A nonprofit administrator the state has contracted to run the program
In states with large populations, most ERA is administered at the county level — each county operates its own application portal with its own waitlist and funding. In smaller and rural states, a single state portal typically covers all residents.
Always call 211 before applying to a state portal. 211 operators know which programs are currently funded. A state portal may be out of funds while a county program in your area is still accepting applications — or vice versa.
What All State Programs Require
Regardless of which state you are in, ERA programs generally require:
- Photo ID for the primary applicant
- Lease or rental agreement (or landlord letter confirming address and rent)
- Proof of income — pay stubs, benefit award letters, or zero-income self-declaration
- Proof of hardship — eviction notice, job loss documentation, or written hardship statement
- Landlord participation — programs pay landlords directly; your landlord must complete their portion of the application
Income limit at most state ERA programs: at or below 80% of Area Median Income (AMI). AMI varies by county — your state program uses your specific county’s AMI, not a national figure.
Rental Assistance Programs by State
Alabama
Primary program: Alabama Emergency Rental Assistance Program (AERA) Administered by: Alabama Housing Finance Authority Apply: ahfa.com Call 211 for county-level programs — some Alabama counties run their own ERA portals.
Alaska
Primary program: Alaska Housing ERA Program Administered by: Alaska Housing Finance Corporation Apply: ahfc.us
Arizona
Primary program: Arizona Rental Assistance Program (ARAP) Administered by: Arizona Department of Housing Apply: azhousing.gov Note: Maricopa County and Tucson/Pima County have separate county-level programs — apply to your county program first.
Arkansas
Primary program: Arkansas Rent Relief Program Administered by: Arkansas Development Finance Authority Apply: adfa.arkansas.gov
California
Primary program: CA COVID-19 Rent Relief (current programs through local jurisdictions) Administered by: California Department of Housing and Community Development; county-level in most areas Apply: Call 211 — California distributes ERA almost entirely through county and city programs. Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Alameda, and Sacramento counties each have separate portals. Call 211 — the statewide portal has closed; county programs vary significantly.
Colorado
Primary program: Colorado Emergency Rental Assistance Program Administered by: Colorado Department of Local Affairs Apply: cdola.colorado.gov Note: Denver, Boulder, and El Paso counties have county-level programs.
Connecticut
Primary program: UniteCT Rental Assistance Program Administered by: Connecticut Department of Housing Apply: portal.ct.gov/DOH
Delaware
Primary program: Delaware Housing Assistance Program (DEHAP) Administered by: Delaware State Housing Authority Apply: destatehousing.com
Florida
Primary program: OUR Florida (federally funded) — check status; county programs active Administered by: Florida Department of Children and Families (county-level programs) Apply: Call 211 — OUR Florida has closed; county programs in Miami-Dade, Broward, Orange, Hillsborough, and Palm Beach counties remain active.
Georgia
Primary program: Georgia Rental Assistance Program (GRAP) Administered by: Georgia Department of Community Affairs Apply: dca.ga.gov Note: Atlanta, Fulton County, and DeKalb County have separate programs.
Hawaii
Primary program: Hawaii Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) Administered by: Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation Apply: hihousingfinance.org
Idaho
Primary program: Idaho Rental Assistance Program Administered by: Idaho Commerce Apply: commerce.idaho.gov
Illinois
Primary program: Illinois Rental Payment Program (ILRPP) Administered by: Illinois Housing Development Authority Apply: ihda.org Note: Chicago runs its own separate ERA program — Chicago residents apply through the City of Chicago portal.
Indiana
Primary program: Indiana Emergency Rental Assistance (IERA) Administered by: Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority Apply: in.gov/ihcda Note: Marion County (Indianapolis) has a separate county program.
Iowa
Primary program: Iowa Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Program Administered by: Iowa Finance Authority Apply: iowafinanceauthority.gov
Kansas
Primary program: Kansas Emergency Rental Assistance Program (KERAP) Administered by: Kansas Housing Resources Corporation Apply: kshousingcorp.org
Kentucky
Primary program: Kentucky Healthy at Home Eviction Relief Fund Administered by: Kentucky Housing Corporation Apply: kyhousing.org
Louisiana
Primary program: Louisiana Emergency Rental Assistance Program (LERAP) Administered by: Louisiana Housing Corporation Apply: lhc.la.gov Note: New Orleans runs its own ERA program through the City of New Orleans.
Maine
Primary program: Maine Emergency Rental Assistance Program Administered by: Maine State Housing Authority Apply: mainehousing.org
Maryland
Primary program: Maryland Eviction Prevention Partnership Administered by: Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Apply: dhcd.maryland.gov Note: Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, and Baltimore City have separate programs.
Massachusetts
Primary program: Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) Administered by: Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development Apply: mass.gov/raft Note: RAFT is Massachusetts’s primary ongoing rental assistance program; it is not time-limited like federal ERA.
Michigan
Primary program: Michigan Emergency Rental Assistance Program (MERA) Administered by: Michigan State Housing Development Authority Apply: michigan.gov/mshda Note: Detroit and Wayne County have a separate program.
Minnesota
Primary program: Minnesota Eviction Homelessness Prevention Program (EHPP) Administered by: Minnesota Housing Finance Agency Apply: mnhousing.gov Note: Minneapolis and St. Paul have city-level programs.
Mississippi
Primary program: Mississippi Emergency Rental Assistance Program Administered by: Mississippi Home Corporation Apply: mshomecorp.com
Missouri
Primary program: Missouri Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) Administered by: Missouri Housing Development Commission Apply: mhdc.com Note: Kansas City and St. Louis City have separate programs.
Montana
Primary program: Montana Emergency Rental Assistance Administered by: Montana Department of Commerce Apply: commerce.mt.gov
Nebraska
Primary program: Nebraska Emergency Rental Assistance Program (NERA) Administered by: Nebraska Investment Finance Authority Apply: nifa.org Note: Omaha and Lincoln have city-level programs.
Nevada
Primary program: Nevada Emergency Rental Assistance Program Administered by: Nevada Housing Division Apply: housing.nv.gov Note: Clark County (Las Vegas) and Washoe County (Reno) each have separate programs.
New Hampshire
Primary program: New Hampshire Emergency Rental Assistance Program Administered by: New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority Apply: nhhfa.org
New Jersey
Primary program: New Jersey Emergency Rental Assistance Program (NJERA) Administered by: New Jersey Department of Community Affairs Apply: dca.nj.gov
New Mexico
Primary program: New Mexico Emergency Rental Assistance Program Administered by: New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority Apply: housingnm.org Note: Bernalillo County (Albuquerque) has a separate program.
New York
Primary program: Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP NY) Administered by: New York State Homes and Community Renewal Apply: otda.ny.gov Note: New York City runs its own separate program — NYC residents apply through the NYC Human Resources Administration (HRA). Call 311 in New York City.
North Carolina
Primary program: North Carolina Housing Opportunities and Prevention of Evictions (HOPE) Program Administered by: North Carolina Office of Recovery and Resiliency Apply: nchousing.org Note: Mecklenburg County (Charlotte) has a separate program.
North Dakota
Primary program: North Dakota Emergency Rental Assistance Program Administered by: North Dakota Housing Finance Agency Apply: ndhfa.org
Ohio
Primary program: Ohio Emergency Rental Assistance Program Administered by: Ohio Department of Development Apply: development.ohio.gov Note: Cuyahoga County (Cleveland), Franklin County (Columbus), and Hamilton County (Cincinnati) have separate county programs.
Oklahoma
Primary program: Oklahoma Emergency Rental Assistance Program Administered by: Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency Apply: ohfa.org Note: Oklahoma City and Tulsa have city-level programs.
Oregon
Primary program: Oregon Emergency Rental Assistance Program Administered by: Oregon Housing and Community Services Apply: oregon.gov/ohcs Note: Multnomah County (Portland) has a separate county program.
Pennsylvania
Primary program: Pennsylvania Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) Administered by: Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency Apply: phfa.org Note: Philadelphia has its own separate program — Philadelphia residents apply through the Philadelphia Eviction Prevention Project.
Rhode Island
Primary program: Rhode Island Emergency Rental Assistance Program Administered by: Rhode Island Housing Apply: rihousing.com
South Carolina
Primary program: South Carolina Stay Plus Program Administered by: South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority Apply: schousing.com
South Dakota
Primary program: South Dakota Emergency Rental Assistance Program Administered by: South Dakota Housing Development Authority Apply: sdhda.org
Tennessee
Primary program: Tennessee Emergency Rental Assistance Program Administered by: Tennessee Housing Development Agency Apply: thda.org Note: Memphis/Shelby County and Nashville/Davidson County have separate programs.
Texas
Primary program: Texas Rent Relief Program Administered by: Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs Apply: texasrentrelief.com Note: Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Austin each have separate city or county ERA programs. Texas distributes most ERA at the local level — always check your city or county first.
Utah
Primary program: Utah Rental Assistance Program Administered by: Utah Housing Corporation Apply: utahhousingcorp.org Note: Salt Lake County has a separate program.
Vermont
Primary program: Vermont Emergency Rental Assistance Program (VERAP) Administered by: Vermont State Housing Authority Apply: vsha.org
Virginia
Primary program: Virginia Rent Relief Program (RRP) Administered by: Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development Apply: dhcd.virginia.gov Note: Fairfax County, Arlington, Richmond City, and Virginia Beach have separate programs.
Washington
Primary program: Washington State Eviction Rent Assistance Program (ERAP) Administered by: Washington State Department of Commerce Apply: commerce.wa.gov Note: King County (Seattle) and Pierce County (Tacoma) have separate county programs.
West Virginia
Primary program: West Virginia Emergency Rental Assistance Program Administered by: West Virginia Housing Development Fund Apply: wvhdf.com
Wisconsin
Primary program: Wisconsin Emergency Rental Assistance Program (WERA) Administered by: Wisconsin Department of Administration Apply: doa.wi.gov Note: Milwaukee County has a separate program.
Wyoming
Primary program: Wyoming Emergency Rental Assistance Program Administered by: Wyoming Community Development Authority Apply: wyomingcda.com
What to Do If Your State’s Program Is Out of Funds
Federal ERA funds are not permanent — programs open, exhaust their allocation, and close. If your state portal says it is not currently accepting applications:
Call 211 immediately. State portals going dark does not mean county programs are closed. 211 operators have live information on which programs are currently funded in your specific county.
Apply to your county’s program. Even in states where the statewide ERA portal is closed, individual counties often have their own allocations. Search “[your county] emergency rental assistance” and call your county’s housing department directly.
Contact community action agencies and nonprofits. Community action agencies, the Salvation Army, and Catholic Charities maintain independent emergency rental funds that are not tied to federal ERA allocations. These funds are smaller but are not subject to the same funding cycles. See our emergency rental assistance programs page for the full landscape of nonprofit sources.
Request hardship documentation for court. If your state program is out of funds and you have a court date, ask for written documentation from the state portal that you attempted to apply and were unable to due to funding. This documentation can be presented to a judge as evidence of good-faith effort.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find emergency rental assistance in my state?
Start by calling 211 — operators have live information on which programs are currently funded in your area. Then search “[your state] emergency rental assistance” or “[your county] emergency rental assistance” to find the current application portal. The state listing above provides starting-point links, but portal URLs and funding status change — always verify through 211 or a direct call to your state housing agency.
Is there one federal application for rental assistance?
No. There is no single national ERA application. The federal government funded the programs, but each state and county runs its own portal with its own eligibility requirements, application process, and funding level. You apply at the state or county level, not directly to the federal government.
What if I live near a state border — can I apply in another state?
No. ERA eligibility is based on where you live and pay rent, not where you work or where your landlord is located. Apply in the state where your rental unit is located.
What is the income limit for state rental assistance programs?
Most federally funded state ERA programs use 80% of Area Median Income (AMI) as the upper income limit, with priority processing for households at or below 50% AMI. AMI is set by county, not statewide — a household earning $60,000 may be below 80% AMI in a rural county but above it in a high-cost metro. Your state or county ERAP portal will calculate your eligibility based on your county’s specific AMI.
Do state rental assistance programs pay the landlord or the tenant?
Programs pay landlords directly in most cases. Your landlord must complete their portion of the application — confirming your lease and providing bank account information for direct deposit. If your landlord refuses to participate, some programs can pay you directly after documenting the refusal.
How long does state rental assistance take to process?
State-level ERA programs take 3–6 weeks on average. County-level programs administered by housing departments or community action agencies can process faster — often 1–4 weeks. Faith-based and nonprofit emergency funds process in 24–72 hours but cover less. If you have an eviction court date, call the program immediately and ask for emergency processing.
What if my state program is not accepting applications?
Call 211 and ask about county-level programs — county allocations are separate from state allocations. Also contact your local community action agency, Salvation Army, and Catholic Charities, which maintain independent emergency funds. If you have a court date, ask the court for a continuance to allow time to locate alternative funds.