What Happened After Federal ERA Ended
The federal Emergency Rental Assistance programs — ERA1 ($25 billion, December 2020) and ERA2 ($21.5 billion, March 2021) — were distributed to states, territories, and localities through the Treasury Department. Spending deadlines and recapture provisions meant that by late 2023, most federal ERA dollars had been disbursed or returned to Treasury for reallocation.
What replaced it varies by state. Some states with large budget surpluses in 2022–2023 created their own ongoing rental assistance programs funded through state general funds or reallocated ARPA dollars. Others established one-time programs that have since been exhausted. Still others rely entirely on local programs through community action agencies, housing authorities, and nonprofits.
The result in 2026 is a patchwork: renters in California, New York, or Illinois may have access to meaningful state-funded programs; renters in states that didn't maintain their ERA infrastructure may find little or nothing available at the state level and must rely on local and nonprofit resources.
How to Find Your State's Current Programs
The most reliable approaches:
- Call 211. This is always the first step. 211 operators have real-time knowledge of which programs are accepting applications in your county. State program websites go stale; 211 operators update their information regularly.
- State housing agency website. Search "[your state] emergency rental assistance 2026" or visit your state's housing finance agency website. Look for "Rental Assistance," "Housing Stability," or "Emergency Assistance" in the navigation.
- NLIHC Emergency Rental Assistance tracker at nlihc.org/era — The National Low Income Housing Coalition maintains an updated tracker of ERA programs by state with current status and application links.
- Treasury ERA spending data at home.treasury.gov — Shows ERA1/ERA2 disbursement by state, which can help you understand whether your state's original federal allocation is still being distributed.
States With Strong Ongoing Programs
As of 2025–2026, these states have maintained or established significant ongoing emergency rental assistance programs beyond the federal ERA allocation. Program details change frequently — verify current status before applying.
- California — HousingIsKey.com was the state's ERA portal; California has supplemented ERA with state General Fund appropriations and local programs remain active in most counties.
- New York — The Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) was one of the largest in the country; successor programs through the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) continue.
- Illinois — Illinois Rental Payment Program (ILRPP) completed its federal ERA disbursements; the state has maintained local coordination infrastructure.
- Texas — Several large counties and cities (Houston, Dallas, Travis County) maintain active programs; statewide program through Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs.
- Washington — State program through Commerce Department remains active; strong county-level programs supplement it.
- Massachusetts — Regional Administering Agency network continues to provide emergency assistance; RAFT (Residential Assistance for Families in Transition) program ongoing.
This is not an exhaustive list, and program status can change between our publication and your reading. Always verify current availability directly.
When State Programs Are Exhausted — Local Options
If your state's ERA program has closed or has no available funding, several local-level options remain:
Community Action Agencies (CAAs) — Local nonprofits designated by the federal Community Services Block Grant program. CAAs typically maintain emergency assistance funds for rent, utilities, and other stabilization needs. Find your local CAA at communityactionpartnership.com or by calling 211.
Local housing authorities — Some PHAs maintain emergency rental assistance for non-Section-8 households, or have access to federal Continuum of Care or HOME funds for rental stabilization. Contact your local PHA and ask specifically about emergency rental assistance for unassisted households.
Local emergency funds — United Way chapters, Catholic Charities, Jewish Family Services, Lutheran Social Services, and similar organizations often maintain emergency assistance funds. These are typically small in dollar amount but can bridge critical gaps. Call 211 for referrals.
Utility assistance crossover — LIHEAP covers utility costs, not rent, but paying utilities through LIHEAP can free up household budget for rent. See the Utilities category for LIHEAP information.
How State Programs Differ — Key Variables
State ERA programs vary across several dimensions that affect whether you qualify and what you'll receive:
| Feature | Common Variations |
|---|---|
| Income limit | 50% AMI (low) to 80% AMI (standard) to 120% AMI (high-cost state versions) |
| Hardship requirement | COVID-specific (older programs) vs general financial hardship (2024+ programs) |
| Maximum assistance | 3 months to 18 months of rent |
| Arrears only vs arrears + prospective | Some pay only back rent; others add future months |
| Direct payment | Most pay landlord directly; some pay tenant in specific circumstances |
| Required documentation | Full documentation vs streamlined (self-attestation for some criteria) |
Income Limits Across State Programs
Most state ERA programs use 80% AMI as their income ceiling, which is relatively generous compared to programs like SNAP (130% FPL) or Section 8 (50% AMI). The 80% AMI threshold reflects ERA's original design to reach moderate-income households who aren't served by deeper-subsidy programs.
80% AMI varies dramatically by metro area:
- Rural Mississippi: 80% AMI for a family of four ≈ $40,000
- Austin, TX: 80% AMI for a family of four ≈ $72,000
- San Francisco Bay Area: 80% AMI for a family of four ≈ $115,000
Many ERA programs prioritize households at 50% AMI or below, even if they accept applications up to 80%. Understanding your state's priority structure helps set expectations — you may be eligible but on a lower-priority tier.
Applying If You've Recently Moved
ERA programs generally require that the assistance cover rent in your current state of residence. If you moved to a new state recently and are facing rental hardship, you apply to programs in your current state, not your previous state. There is typically no minimum residency requirement for ERA.
If you moved for work or family reasons and immediately faced hardship, documentation of your current address and lease (even a very recent one) is sufficient to establish program eligibility in your new state. Some states do require that hardship occurred in their state to access their program — this is most common in older programs designed specifically for COVID-related losses that occurred when the state program was funded.
When No Program Is Available — Gap-Filling Strategies
If ERA programs in your area are exhausted and local nonprofit funds are depleted:
- Negotiate directly with your landlord. Many landlords will accept a payment plan rather than pursue eviction, which costs them money and time. A written payment agreement — even for a small regular payment toward arrears while you stabilize — can prevent eviction while you rebuild.
- Use legal aid strategically. Even without rental assistance, a legal aid attorney can slow the eviction process enough for funds to become available, make procedural arguments that give you more time, and negotiate directly with the landlord's attorney on your behalf.
- Check for upcoming program cycles. Many ERA programs fund in waves — a program that's exhausted now may receive a new appropriation in a few months. Ask the program directly whether a new funding cycle is expected and when to reapply.
- Contact your state legislators. Constituent casework offices at state legislative offices sometimes know about emergency funds or can facilitate connections to state agency help that isn't widely advertised.
For the fastest path to applying in your area today, see Applying for Rental Help Fast.