Emergency Rental Assistance Program

The Emergency Rental Assistance Program makes available $46.5 billion to assist households that are unable to pay rent and utilities due to COVID-19. The funds will be provided directly to states and eligible local governments. Each state/locality will determine the application and administrative process.

Eligible households may receive up to 12 months of rent and/or utility assistance, plus an additional three months if more time is needed to ensure housing stability and funds are available. An additional three months of assistance will be available to the most vulnerable households at risk of losing housing (up to 18 months maximum), while funds are available.

An eligible household is defined as a renter household in which at least one or more individuals qualifies for unemployment or has experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs, or experienced a financial hardship due to COVID-19; demonstrates a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability; and has a household income at or below 80% area median income.

An application for rental assistance may be submitted by either an eligible household or by a landlord on behalf of that eligible household. Funds will be paid directly to landlords and utility service providers.

Entergy is committed to serving our most vulnerable customers, and because of COVID-19, more and more of our customers are facing unexpected financial crises – including eviction from their homes and mounting utility bills.

More information is available in the chart below about each state/locality application process.

Arkansas

 

Organization

How landlords and tenants can apply for assistance with past-due rent, forward rent, and utility bills (certain restrictions apply).

Comments

Arkansas

Arkansas Department of Human Services

Applications for rent and utility assistance are currently not being accepted at this time.

Visit humanservices.arkansas.gov/ for updates on the application process for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program.

Pulaski County

Office of Pulaski County Judge

Both landlords and tenants may apply at portal.neighborlysoftware.com/ERAP-PULASKICOUNTYAR/Participant.

This program is only available to residents in Pulaski County.

Louisiana

Louisiana

Louisiana Housing Corp

Both landlords and tenants may apply at lastaterent.com. 

If you live in Caddo, Calcasieu, East Baton Rouge, Jefferson, Lafayette, Orleans or St. Tammany Parish, you must apply directly to the program in your parish.

City of Baton Rouge

East Baton Rouge Parish

Both landlords and tenants may apply at ebremergencysolutions.com. 

This program is only available to residents in City of Baton Rouge (East Baton Rouge Parish).

Calcasieu Parish

Calcasieu Parish Policy Jury (Parish Government) and Human Services Department

Both landlords and tenants may apply at calcasieuparish.gov/era or (337) 721-4033 or apply in person at 2001 Moeling Street Lake Charles, LA 70601

This program is only available to residents in Calcasieu Parish.

Jefferson Parish

Jefferson Parish Government

Both landlords and tenants may apply at jpera.org.

This program is only available to residents in Jefferson Parish.

Lafayette Parish

Lafayette Parish Government

Both landlords and tenants may contact the following for more information:
Catholic Charities of Acadiana: catholiccharitiesacadiana.org or (337) 235-4972, Ext. 1116
SMILE Community Action Agency: www.smilecaa.org/programs or (337) 234-3272

This program is only available to residents in Lafayette Parish.

City of New Orleans

New Orleans Office of Community Development

Both landlords and tenants may apply at ready.nola.gov/incident/coronavirus/assistance/#legal

This program is only available to residents in Orleans Parish.

Mississippi

Mississippi

Mississippi Home Corp

The application portal is now open to apply for rental assistance, rental arrears, as well as some utilities at ms-ramp.com.

This program is available to all residents of Mississippi.

Hinds County

Hinds County

Hinds County residents may apply through the newly opened application portal at ms-ramp.com. Funds can be used for rental assistance, rental arrears, as well as some utilities.

The Hinds County program is currently under development. Visit ms-ramp.com for more information about the Emergency Rental Assistance Program.

Texas

Texas

Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs

Both landlords and renters may apply at TexasRentRelief.com or call (833) 9TX-RENT.

This program is available to all residents of Texas.

Harris County

Harris County Community Services

Both landlords and renters may apply at houstonharrishelp.org or call (832)402-7568

This program is only available to residents in Harris county and City of Houston.

Jefferson County

Jefferson County

Visit co.jefferson.tx.us for more information on how to apply for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program.

This program is only available to residents in Jefferson county.  

Montgomery County 

Montgomery County - Community Development

Visit mctx.org for more information on how to apply for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program.

Currently residents of Montgomery county can apply for rent and utility assistance at TexasRentRelief.com. 

The LIHEAP Program 

LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) is a program that provides money to help individuals with energy bills and other energy-related expenses. LIHEAP is funded through the federal government and works with the community action agencies to help customers pay for and keep electric service in their homes. 

Please check your state’s website for more information about the availability of LIHEAP.