Emergency Rental Assistance Alabama is now taking applications. Landlord and tenants can apply at https://eraalabama.com/. Call Center staff are available at 833-620-2434 to answer questions and help with applications if necessary.
ERA Alabama can help renters with past due, current, and up to 3 months of expected rent and utility and home energy expenses.
On February 12, 2021, Governor Kay Ivey authorized AHFA to implement the State’s new COVID-19 emergency rental assistance program. Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) Alabama is funded entirely by a $263 million congressional grant under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (the “Act”).
Separate from ERA Alabama, the Act also funds separate rental assistance programs serving residents of Baldwin, Madison, Mobile, Montgomery, Tuscaloosa, and Jefferson Counties, and the cities of Huntsville and Birmingham. Residents in those local areas with separate programs must apply there, not with ERA Alabama. However, if the local program in your area is not yet operating, ERA Alabama might accept your application. Call 833-620-2434 for details.
For a detailed list of registration instructions,
click here.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Who qualifies for this program?
Alabama renters with a household income below 80 percent of area median income (AMI); With a demonstrable risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability; and have one or more household members who qualify for unemployment benefits or experienced financial hardship due either directly or indirectly to the pandemic.
What financial assistance is provided by ERA Alabama?
- Past due rent (from March 13, 2020 to present)
- Current and future rent (3-months/request up to a total of 15-months)
- Rental fees
- Past due utilities (from March 13, 2020 to present)
- Current and future utilities (3-months/request up to a total of 15-months)
- Utility fees
May I charge a fee to tenants for applying to the program?
No, owners/landlords may not charge fees to apply for assistance.
How do I know if my tenants are potential candidates?
These may be some indicators of potential financial hardship:
- Tenant is slow to pay, makes partial payments, or makes payments on credit card
- Tenant is receiving food assistance or food pantry deliveries
- Tenant has stopped going to medical appointments or seeking treatment
- Tenant is not driving or taking paid transportation (if applicable)
- Tenant has cancelled services or utilities (or had them shut off)
What documentation must landlords provide?
Prior to starting a new application, Landlords will need to have the following information:
- Landlord name (as it appears on W9)
- Landlord address
- Landlord email address
- Duns number (if known)
- TIN, EIN or Social Security Number
- A completed IRS W‐9 form
- Proof of ownership of the property (for example, property tax statements or deed)
When inviting tenants, the landlord will need the following tenant information:
- Tenant’s name
- Tenant’s phone number
- Tenant’s email address
- Rental statement or ledger showing balances owed by tenant
How are the payments made?
Payments are sent directly to the housing provider via ACH deposit. In the application, the landlord must provide bank routing information.
I own/manage an AHFA funded property located in a city/county also administering ERA funds. Where should I apply?
I own/manage a non-AHFA property. Where should I apply?
Non-AHFA properties located in Baldwin County, the City of Birmingham, the City of Huntsville, Jefferson County, Madison County, Mobile County, Montgomery County and Tuscaloosa County will apply to their respective local ERA assistance offices. All other non-AHFA properties will apply to https://eraalabama.com/.
Funding for ERA is made available through Alabama’s allocation from the Emergency Rental Assistance Program funded by the U.S. Department of Treasury. AHFA is the administrator for the state of Alabama.
