Emergency Rental Assistance
As a leader in the field of property compliance with an extensive history in providing consulting services specifically relating to affordable housing, Novogradac has the experience and expertise to assist both grantees and grant recipients navigating the Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program, which provide $25 billion to assist renters in paying unpaid rent and utilities.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury will distribute the funds to states, tribes, territories, the District of Columbia and units of local government with populations exceeding 200,000 grantees. Grantees must expend at least 90% of their funds on rent, rental arrears, utilities/home energy costs and utilities/home energy costs arrears. This assistance can last up to 12 months with an additional three months if necessary to ensure housing stability. Agencies will make payments to landlords and/or utility providers on behalf of eligible households or grant recipients. If a landlord or utility provider is unwilling to participate, the agency may provide funding directly to eligible households.
As grant recipients, landlords may either assist renters in applying for assistance or apply on behalf of renters.
Demand will outweigh supply, so grant recipients will want to be in the best position to receive an award. To do this, grant recipients should begin identifying who is eligible, gather tenant income certification to evidence eligibility to be ready to go when the grantee opens their fund up for applications.
Novogradac can assist grant recipients in the following consulting services:
- Identify the correct grantee for the subject property
- Determining if the correct grantee is the city, county, state or other agency
- Outlining and summarizing the application process
- Outlining the timing for submitting the application
- Providing technical assistance with application
- Providing ongoing compliance reviews as required by the grantee
- Outlining any special requirements or additional requirements of the grantee
- Help in determining eligibility of tenants under the grantee’s plan
- Summarizing and outing preferences
- Allowable activities (rent and/or utilities)
- Definition of income
- Documentation and verification requirements of eligibility
- Identifying which tenants will have priority in the grantee’s application process
Technical Support
- Review tenant eligibility to determine if they are income eligible for ERA based on the requirements of the grantee
- Review rent ledgers to assist in reconciling amounts for which the tenant may be eligible
- Assist in reporting requirements to the grantee
