RoxanneAs the cost of everything goes up, more people are having rent problems. Sure, the COVID-19 eviction moratorium helped, but that’s now over. Other than writing a letter to your landlord to see if they can lower the rent, your only other option may be to pursue rent relief. Luckily, several resources provide it, and here’s a list that can help you get started with your search:
1. Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) Program
Billions of dollars were given to states for rent relief in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Under the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, you could get help with paying past due and even future rent, along with utility expenses, moving costs, and more. And while it’s deemed “emergency assistance,” some say this program’s benefits could last until 2026, which makes it worth your while to apply.
To find out more about this program, go here.
2. Section 8
Unlike the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, Section 8 takes longer to process. Does this mean you should avoid it? No, because if you qualify for a Section 8 voucher, it can provide a long-term housing solution to your troubles.
With a voucher, you will only have to pay 30 percent of your income towards rent, allowing you to save money for other expenses while fixing your finances. There is a long waiting list for this program, so apply as soon as possible by going here.
3. Salvation Army
Many know that the Salvation Army offers homeless shelters and food to those who need it most, but they don’t know that it also supplies rental assistance in certain situations. To see if your local Salvation Army has a rent relief program, go here and give them a call.
4. Esusu Rent Relief Fund
Unlike other rental assistance programs on this list, Esusu offers loans to help you pay the rent. Before you sigh and say that’s not what you need, know that these loans can have zero percent interest, making them much better than personal loans.
The process here is simple. First, you fill out a two-minute application to see if you qualify for rent relief. Next, Esusu reviews your application. After a 5-7 day wait, you will receive a notification regarding your approval status. And if approved, your rent relief payment will get deposited directly to your landlord.
If you’ve experienced financial hardship and need a cheap loan to pay past due rent, go here to learn more about how Esusu works.
5. Local Rent Relief
While the rent relief programs listed above are more national in nature, there are plenty of local programs that can offer rental assistance. Your mileage may vary in finding them, so do a Google search for “rent relief” or “rent assistance” in your area. With many states, counties, and cities having their own rental assistance programs, you should yield some helpful results. You could also give this link a try to see what you find.
