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Emergency Rental Assistance Program

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Keeping renters safe and in their homes

The DES Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) offers rental assistance to eligible Arizona households impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. ERAP is available for eligible households that may receive up to $3,500 per month in rental assistance. Total assistance may not exceed 18 months or $63,000.

On April 1, 2023, ERAP is changing

Through March 31, 2023: Applicants may continue to:

  • Apply for rental and utility assistance (including arrears and up to three months future assistance); or
  • Recertify rental and/or utility assistance. 

Starting April 1, 2023: 

  • Utility assistance and recertifications will no longer be available.
  • Rental assistance will be available only to new eligible applicants (including arrears and up to three months future rent).

The Department will continue to pay approved benefits unless ERAP funds are depleted before the end of the eligibility period.

Any future ERAP updates will continue to be provided on this webpage as available.

Utility assistance is available through the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) and Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). You may apply for these benefits through the DES Housing Stability and Utility Assistance Portal.

If you have questions about your ERAP application, please call (602) 534-2433.

Eligibility

Eligibility for rent and utility assistance is based on the renter’s address and ability to meet the following federal criteria:

  • The renter has a risk of homelessness, housing instability, or unsafe living conditions demonstrated by the following:
    • Eviction notice
    • Utility shutoff notice
    • Past due rent notice
    • Past due utility notice
    • Any other evidence of unsafe or unhealthy living conditions or housing instability
  • The renter or member of the renter’s household has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic
  • The renter’s household income is less than or equal to 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI)

DES Emergency Rental Assistance Program - Maximum Household Income Eligible - 80% of Area Median Income (AMI)*
  Household Size (Persons)
COUNTY 1 PERSON 2 PERSON 3 PERSON 4 PERSON 5 PERSON 6 PERSON 7 PERSON 8 PERSON +
Apache  $31,050 $35,450 $39,900 $44,300 $47,850 $51,400 $54,950 $58,500
Cochise  $36,150 $41,300 $46,450 $51,600 $55,750 $59,900 $64,000 $68,150
Coconino  $48,100 $55,000 $61,850 $68,700 $74,200 $79,700 $85,200 $90,700
Gila  $33,750 $38,550 $43,350 $48,150 $52,050 $55,900 $59,750 $63,600
Graham  $37,050 $42,350 $47,650 $52,900 $57,150 $61,400 $65,600 $69,850
Greenlee  $40,150 $45,900 $51,650 $57,350 $61,950 $66,550 $71,150 $75,750
La Paz  $32,900 $37,600 $42,300 $46,950 $50,750 $54,500 $58,250 $62,000
Maricopa  $49,500 $56,550 $63,600 $70,650 $76,350 $82,000 $87,650 $93,300
Mohave  $34,900 $39,850 $44,850 $49,800 $53,800 $57,800 $61,800 $65,750
Navajo  $31,050 $35,450 $39,900 $44,300 $47,850 $51,400 $54,950 $58,500
Pima  $42,950 $49,100 $55,250 $61,350 $66,300 $71,200 $76,100 $81,000
Pinal  $49,500 $56,550 $63,600 $70,650 $76,350 $82,000 $87,650 $93,300
Santa Cruz  $31,050 $35,450 $39,900 $44,300 $47,850 $51,400 $54,950 $58,500
Yavapai  $39,950 $45,650 $51,350 $57,050 $61,650 $66,200 $70,750 $75,350
Yuma  $32,050 $36,600 $41,200 $45,750 $49,450 $53,100 $56,750 $60,400

*Applications from households with income below 50% AMI will be prioritized for processing.

How to Apply

Applicants can apply for rental and utility assistance safely from their own homes using the ERAP online portal. Applicants unable to apply online may apply by phone through the ERAP hotline at 1-833-912-0878 or by using a paper application (see “FAQs for Renters” section for links).

Renters interested in rental assistance will need to provide a copy of the lease/rental agreement, photo ID, utility bills, disconnection notice (if any), proof of income, eviction notice (if applicable) and proof or explanation of their hardship, such as a termination letter. Failure to provide the required documentation may delay eligibility determination.

Easy Apply: We now offer Easy Apply for utility-only assistance applicants! Easy Apply is a streamlined application that allows renters to get the utility assistance they need faster. Renters are required to provide a copy of their utility bills and answer a few short eligibility questions. Joint landlord applications are not required.

Payment Information

Eligible households may receive up to $3,500 per month in combined rent and utility assistance for a maximum of 18 months or a total of $63,000 in benefits paid. This 18-month total is the combined total of partial and full months of past-due, current, and future months (this includes all ERAP assistance payments). No further assistance can be paid after 18 months of ERAP benefits have been distributed.

Payments may be made to the landlord (if participating), utility company, or the tenant directly (if landlord does not complete application and participate in program).

Appeals

If you are denied rent or utility assistance, you can appeal the action. This can be done by completing and submitting the Appeal Request for ERAP & LIHWAP form within 60 calendar days from the date of the decision.

Fraud Safeguards

DES will mitigate fraud by verifying the identities of prospective renter and landlord applicants prior to the submission of an application using the identity verification service ID.me. During the application process, applicants will receive notice through their selected method of communication with a unique link and instructions on how to use ID.me.

Tenants may submit a paper application with government-issued photo identification to verify their identity if unable to use ID.me. Landlord representatives/employees can verify identity through ID.me and then enter the landlord company’s tax and banking information in the application.

Individuals or landlords who suspect fraud or believe they may have been a victim of identity theft used to file a fraudulent application for rental or utility assistance can submit a fraud report online to DES here or contact the fraud hotline at 1 (800) 251-2436 or (602) 542-9449. When reporting potential fraud, please be prepared to provide identifying information that will help locate the application in our systems.

Removal Prevention

The purpose of the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) is to prevent housing instability for tenants due to Covid-19 related hardships. Tenants and/or landlords are paid directly for past due and qualifying months of rental assistance. 

For this reason, ERAP requires that participating landlords agree NOT to evict tenants for non-payment for at least 30 days following payment, or to suspend or dismiss active cases against tenants. 

Landlords may also qualify for up to $500 in legal fee reimbursement for cases that have already been filed. We encourage landlords to be partners with ERAP to promote housing stability for Arizona residents.

Is the eviction moratorium still in effect?

On August 26, 2021, the United States Supreme Court overturned the Center for Disease Control (CDC)’s eviction moratorium. This means tenants can be evicted for non-payment of rent. 

If you are facing eviction, there are resources available, in addition to the Emergency Rental Assistance Program that provides help with rent and utility payments for qualifying households.

If you need legal assistance with a potential eviction, there are resources available at https://azevictionhelp.org and https://clsaz.org/.

Other City and County-Operated Programs

Renters residing in Maricopa (other than City of Phoenix residents) and Pima counties are not eligible for rental assistance through the DES Emergency Rental Assistance Program but may be eligible for similar city or county-operated programs in their area. Information on how to apply for these programs is listed below.

Programs
City/County Website Phone Number
Pima County https://tucsonpimaep.com/  
Tucson https://tucsonpimaep.com/  
Glendale www.glendaleaz.com/cap (623) 930-2854
Chandler https://www.chandleraz.gov/government/city-managers-office/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/resident-resources/eviction-prevention-assistance (480) 963-1423 ext. 118
Gilbert https://www.gilbertaz.gov/residents/community-and-neighborhood-services/community-resources/foreclosure-prevention-predatory-lending-information/  
Maricopa County
*all cities besides Phoenix, Mesa, Glendale, Chandler, Gilbert		 https://hsdclientportal.maricopa.gov/  

Contact Us

Contact the Emergency Rental Assistance Program hotline at 1-833-912-0878. The call center is available 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

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