More than $46 billion in emergency aid has been allocated by Congress to help struggling tenants pay their past-due rent and utility bills. However, there is no assurance that you will get that money. Unfortunately, not all rent-defaulting tenants are eligible for assistance.

Another potential barrier to receiving the funding is the additional documentation needed in some jurisdictions. Some landlords also refuse to assist renters in applying for aid, even though the process normally requires both parties to work together.

Most tenants are now protected by various eviction restrictions at the federal, state, and occasionally municipal levels, but these protections will inevitably be rolled down at some point.

Assisting Low-Income Tenants In Times of Crisis

In December, Congress authorized $25 billion in renter aid; in March, they added another $21.5 billion. State and municipal administrations are receiving the funds. The application processing for many systems has only recently begun, while others are still in the early stages of implementation.

Diane Yentel, president and chief executive officer of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, an organization that promotes affordable housing, says, "That money is now trickling out to renters and landlords, albeit slowly."

One breadwinner in the home must be unemployed, have suffered financial losses, or have incurred costs because of the epidemic. Tenants must have incomes 80% or less of the local median, and program managers must give preference to those whose incomes are 50% or less of the area median. The funds can cover past due rent or utility bills or be put toward future payments.

Financial Consequences Don't Stop Evictions

The CDC has extended its moratorium on most rental evictions until June 30; in other locations, renters have even more safeguards.

While these options can put a roof over your head, for the time being, they won't stop your landlord from collecting late fees or handing your account over to a collection agency, both of which can hurt your credit score.

Furthermore, if the stay of eviction expires, your landlord will most likely initiate the process of removing you from the premises. Eviction, or the paperwork that initiates the process in some jurisdictions, can make it impossible to find a quality place to live to rent for a long time.

Who Is Eligible For This?

One household member must be unemployed or demonstrate in writing that they have suffered considerable financial hardship due to the epidemic. Proof that you are on the verge of homelessness, such as a notification that your rent or utilities are overdue, is also required.

Also, in 2020, your income can be at most 80% of the median income for your area. However, states have been told to give preference to applicants whose incomes are 50% or lower and those who have been unemployed for 90 days or more. You may look for supplementary priorities that specific state and local initiatives have established.

One California fund, for instance, is directing aid specifically to Native American families. Another organization in Oklahoma prioritizes distributing the funds to those aged 62 and over.

Help Is Hard To Acquire. Why?

In the first place, you should know that you have support. According to housing activists, there have been many issues with the delivery of help.

Research vice president at the National Low Income Housing Coalition, Andrew Aurand, reported seeing a 45-page application. Another policy was that tenants provide proof of income for the prior six months.

Dan Rose has remarked, "Public authorities are more concerned about so-called fraudsters collecting this money than they are about the people who actually need it."

If you are denied from one program or cannot provide the required papers, experts recommend continuing your search for local rental assistance programs.

Eviction Worries Me. How Should I Proceed?

In addition to submitting an expedited application for rent assistance, you should study your legal protections as quickly as possible. Each state has its regulations.

In most places, eviction restrictions have been eliminated, but in others, they persist. All of those rules are unrelated to the federal ban.

Most California landlords must wait until October to initiate evictions, even though as many as 1.6 million renters may be behind on payments. Tenants in the Garden State cannot be evicted before the new year.

Get a lawyer if your landlord has initiated eviction proceedings against you. Visit Lawhelp.org to locate low-cost or free legal assistance with eviction in your state. Tenants in eviction cases now have the right to legal representation in some jurisdictions, such as Washington, Maryland, and Connecticut.