Trouble making rent? Lean on These 3 Government Resources for Help

Since the pandemic, utility bill That has doubled for one out of every six households, according to Bloomberg, with 20 million households behind paying utilities.

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As CNN reported in 2021, “there is no state, county, or city in the country where a full-time, minimum wage worker working 40 hours a week can pay two-bedroom rent,” per a report good From the National Low Income Housing Coalition.

The pandemic certainly upset the already volatile housing situation for many, but as benefits.gov Reminds us, there are many support programs available to Americans of all backgrounds struggling to make and receive their rent. Three such resources are the US Department of the Treasury-funded Emergency Rental Assistance Program and two US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs – the Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) and the Housing Counseling Assistance Program.

Emergency Rent Assistance Program (ERAP)

stemming from the Consolidated Appropriation Act 2021, Era Provides $25 billion to help families who are unable to pay rent and utilities because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Federally supervised but state and municipally administered, rent-paying low-income families are eligible for this benefit program if they fall into it. All These three conditions:

1. Household income is 80% or less of the sector median income (AMI)

2. being at risk of becoming homeless or experiencing housing instability

3. Have one or more individuals within the household who have experienced loss of income or financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, qualify for unemployment or incur significant costs per year. ERAP site

Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8)

Housing Choice Voucher – Also known as Section 8 Program – Issued to very low-income families seeking to find safe and sanitary housing. A recipient family is responsible for finding housing that meets program standards and must agree to rent housing under program rules. To qualify, families must meet the following two eligibility requirements:

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1. Have low or very little income based on annual gross income

2. Requires decent, safe and/or sanitary housing

Contact your local to apply public housing agency (PHA) which manages the accommodation choice vouchers.

housing counseling assistance program

According to benefits.gov, HUD funds housing counseling agencies across the country and offers homeowners, renters and buyers “home buying, renting, defaults, foreclosures, credit issues and reverse mortgages” on free or low-cost solutions. gives advice.

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About to consult a local housing counseling agency counseling support programsearch on HUD site Or call 1-800-569-4287.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com, Trouble making rent? Lean on These 3 Government Resources for Help