Announcement

As of 5 p.m. December 21, 2022, the program is no longer accepting new applications. To check the status of an existing application, click here.

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Assistance to renters and landlords seeking financial assistance with rent or utilities due to COVID-19

This program provides emergency rental and utility assistance to Louisiana residents who are experiencing housing instability due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The application period for the Louisiana Emergency Rental Assistance Program has closed

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Program Stats


As of 8 a.m. on March 20, 2023

101,889

Applications started

46,122

Applications submitted

52,509

Utility payments requested

28,893

Tenants approved for rent payment totaling $156,468,884.78

$150.3M

In Rental & Utility assistance paid to applicants

Apply

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The application period has closed.

This program can provide assistance for:

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Past-Due
Rent

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Forward Rent
Payments

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Utility
Costs

To apply by phone, call 877.459.6555,
8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday – Friday.

Eligibility

Eligible Renters

  • Live in one of 57 parishes covered by the program

  • At least one individual in the household qualified for unemployment benefits or experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs, or experienced other financial hardship due to or during the COVID-19 pandemic

  • Received a past due rent notice, past due utility notice, or an eviction notice or is experiencing housing instability

  • Household income does not exceed 80% of area median income limit (AMI)

    Program payments cannot exceed 120% Fair Market Rent (FMR) values for your parish. To learn more, click here.

Eligible Landlords

  • Will not evict the tenant for past due rent prior to April 2020

  • Will not evict the tenant for at least 60 days after assistance ends unless eviction is for cause

  • Will forgive all penalties, interest and court costs related to rent incurred between April 2020 and date of remittance of program rental assistance, with the exception of late fees up to $100 per month, as prescribed within current lease terms

Resources

FAQs

Who can apply for Louisiana's Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)?

A renter living in one of the 57 parishes where the Louisiana ERAP is administered must submit an application in order to receive the rental assistance from the program. An application can be initiated by either a renter or a landlord. Generally, both parties will be required to provide information during the application process.

Renters living in one of the seven parishes or Local Government Units administering their own emergency rental assistance programs need to contact those parish program administrators directly at the links below.

What can I do if I am facing eviction and my application has not yet been completed or processed?

If you are facing eviction due to the financial impacts of COVID-19 but have not been evicted yet, apply immediately through the program Application Portal, by clicking here. Louisiana’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program can cover expenses related to past-due rent incurred as early as April 1, 2020, late fees up to $100/month, past-due utility expenses incurred as early as April 1, 2020, and up to 3 months forward rent. If you cannot access the application online, call 877.459.6555 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

If you are facing immediate eviction, you should apply and, if possible, upload all documentation, including the eviction notice. You should add a note in your application and notify your case manager of the threat of eviction, especially if the landlord does not want to participate.

You can also send an email to [email protected] with the subject line, “Eviction Help,” and include information about your situation and your application identification number. 

There are also free resources available to help prevent homelessness, including:

  • Call 211 to locate shelter and homelessness prevention resources nearby. 

  • Visit www.LAHousingSearch.com or call 1-877-428-8844 to search for available affordable housing. 

  • Visit Louisiana’s Housing Coordinated Entry Access Points www.laboscoc.org/housing-and-services or call 225-388-5800 for local homelessness prevention resources.

  • Visit the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s list of community partners www.hud.gov/states/louisiana/homeless.

  • Visit www.LouianaLawHelp.org for more information on the Louisiana eviction process.

  • Visit www.Ready.NOLA.gov for information on renter’s rights and guidance related to evictions, especially following a disaster.


What are the income requirements for renters?

The Louisiana Emergency Rental Assistance Program limits eligibility to households with income that does not exceed 80 percent of area median income, as defined by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), for the parish where they reside. To view AMI data by parish, here.

Why have I received an IRS Form 1099-G for the Louisiana Rental Assistance Program?

You are receiving this form because you received payment(s) as a landlord or utility company from the Louisiana Emergency Rental Assistance Program during the 2021 calendar year. To view more information, click here.

What does the Louisiana Emergency Rental Assistance Program cover?

The program focuses on paying past-due rent dating back as far as April 2020 and up to three months of future rent for households who qualify—for a maximum of 18 months total. Late fees of up to $100 per month can be covered, if they are prescribed within current lease terms.

In most cases, payment is disbursed to the landlord, but can be made to a renter if a landlord is not responsive. Payments made directly to renters for the purpose of paying rent cannot exceed 6 months total rent.

For someone who has been evicted, the program can pay up to three months of future rent for a new rental unit with a confirmed lease. The program can reimburse hotel room costs for someone who is in the process of finding a new rental unit.

Additionally, the program can provide utility assistance to renter applicants with past-due and current utilities and home energy costs, as well as some penalty fees, including electricity, gas, fuel oil, water and sewer, and trash removal for up to 18 months total. Utility payments are disbursed to the utility provider.

If I have already received assistance from the Louisiana Emergency Rental Assistance Program, can I apply for additional assistance?

No, you may only submit ONE application to the program, and your benefits are determined at the time of your award.

If you have already submitted an application and have received funding from the Louisiana Emergency Rental Assistance Program, no action is required in order to be considered for additional assistance. If additional funding becomes available in the future and you qualify based on your initial application, the program will contact you about additional assistance. If you have applied and received funding for your household or under the name of anyone in your household, you cannot submit another application for additional rental assistance from the Louisiana Emergency Rental Assistance Program, even for different months or at a different address.

Only one application will be considered per household or tenant. Duplicate applications slow the funding process and will be removed from the system.

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