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How the people you serve can find help with rent and utilities

Help is available for renters

The CDC moratorium ended on August 26, 2021, but help is available. Apply for money to cover rent and utilities today.

Start with a program in your area

The COVID-19 pandemic has made it difficult for renters and landlords to cover housing costs. With the CDC moratorium ending on July 31, many renters are worried about catching up on owed rent and facing eviction. Help is available.

Renters and landlords can apply to a state or local organization for help from the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program. Billions of dollars are available to state, local, and tribal government agencies to provide emergency rental assistance to qualifying households.

The federal ERA Program allows local programs to cover rent, utilities, and other housing costs that came due during the COVID-19 pandemic. Money may also be available to cover future rent and moving costs. Rental assistance may cover:

  • Reasonable late fees (if not included in your rental or utility debt)
  • Internet service to the home
  • Moving expenses and other rental-related fees (such as security deposits, application fees, or screening fees) for families who have to move

Some programs provide housing counseling, case management, legal representation, and other housing stability services.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), created a Rental Assistance Finder to help anyone, anywhere in the country find rental assistance in their area. This tool relies on information compiled by the National Low-Income Housing Coalition and the U.S. Department of the Treasury .

People can search for aid based on where they live. They can also search for their tribe. Depending on the program in their area, renters may be able to apply or they may need their landlord to apply instead.

Please share the Rental Assistance Finder widely with your networks and the people you serve.

The tool is also available in Spanish.

Learn more with our Questions and Answers about Emergency Rental Assistance

Public Event

Additionally, the Bureau will host a public event on Wednesday, July 28 at 11:00 a.m. EST. The event will feature a demonstration of the new Rental Assistance Finder tool. The webinar will also feature remarks from David Uejio, Acting Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

The event is open to the public and will be held via WebEx.

Event address:
https://cfpbevents.webex.com/cfpbevents/onstage/g.php?MTID=e072c8ccfbc4eb8752948875c1d65d4ed

Event number: 199 090 4698
Event password: zYJNnEbh@784

Telephone only:
To receive a call back, provide your phone number when you join the event, or call the number below and enter the access code.

US Toll: +1-404-397-1590
Access code: 199 090 4698

Join the conversation. Follow CFPB on Twitter and Facebook .