INSIGHTi
COVID-19: Financial Relief and Assistance
Resources for Renters
Updated January 11, 2021
This Insight highlights resources from selected federal agencies and other organizations that may aid
renters at risk of eviction due to circumstances related to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
pandemic.
Renter Protections at the Federal Level
On September 4, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published an order (2020-
19654) in the Federal Register, temporarily halting residential evictions nationwide through December
31, 2020, for covered renters. The CDC published an FAQs document related to this order.
On December 27, 2020, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. 116-260) was enacted. Division
N of the act extends the CDC eviction moratorium order through January 31, 2021 (§502) and provides
$25 bil ion for emergency rental assistance to be administered by state and local governments (§501).
These actions follow the expiration of a previous federal eviction moratorium. The Coronavirus Aid,
Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act; P.L. 116-136) provided a temporary federal moratorium
on eviction filings for nonpayment of rent against renters residing in federal y assisted properties or
properties with federal y backed mortgages. This moratorium went into effect upon enactment of the
CARES Act on March 27, 2020, and lasted for 120 days (through July 24, 2020). Landlords were required
to provide at least 30 days’ notice before renters must vacate the property (not before August 23, 2020).
For more information, see CRS Insight IN11516, Federal Eviction Moratoriums in
Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, by Maggie McCarty and Libby Perl
Additional y, the CARES Act contained mortgage relief provisions for properties with federal y backed
mortgages, including the availability of mortgage forbearance. Property owners with federal y backed
multifamily mortgages that receive forbearance are required to abide by certain protections for renters for
the duration of the forbearance. Multifamily mortgages are mortgages on properties with five or more
housing units.
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IN11498
CRS INSIGHT
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For an analysis of mortgage provisions in the CARES Act, see CRS Insight IN11334,
Mortgage Provisions in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES)
Act, by Katie Jones and Andrew P. Scott
On June 29, 2020, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced that multifamily property
owners with existing mortgages in forbearance may extend forbearance for an additional three months,
beyond the 90 days provided for in the CARES Act, for a total of up to six months of forbearance on
mortgages backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. Required renter protections must continue during the
extended forbearance period.
On July 1, 2020, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued Notice H 20-07,
which announced that renter protections in place for HUD-insured or HUD-held multifamily mortgages in
forbearance would continue for the duration of the forbearance period, including any extensions.
Multifamily property owners must notify renters of the protections to which they are entitled.
On August 5, 2020, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminded stakeholders that renter
protections in place for Rural Housing Service (RHS) multifamily properties in forbearance would
continue for the duration of the forbearance period, including any extensions.
As of August 6, 2020, FHFA requires multifamily owners with Fannie Mae- or Freddie Mac-backed
mortgages who enter into new or modified forbearance agreements to notify renters of the protections to
which they are entitled.
To identify HUD-insured or HUD-held multifamily properties:
Federal Housing Administration-Insured Multifamily Properties
HUD Multifamily Assisted Properties
To identify multifamily properties financed by Fannie Mac or Freddie Mac:
Fannie Mae Rental Property Lookup
Freddie Mac Rental Property Lookup
To identify multifamily properties financed or held by RHS:
USDA RHS Multifamily Housing Rentals
These tools do not identify properties that are currently receiving forbearance and thus subject to related
renter protections.
Renter Protections at State and Local Levels
Many state and local governments have implemented legislative or legal measures to provide eviction
protections to renters affected by the pandemic. Additional y, state and local governments have used
federal COVID-19 relief funding, as wel as their own funding, for emergency rental assistance for
tenants and their landlords.
Information on state and local eviction moratoriums:
COVID-19 Eviction Moratoria by State, Commonwealth, and Territory (National
Housing Law Project [NHLP], an advocacy group)
This spreadsheet, located under the State and Local Eviction Moratoria header, outlines
eviction measures by state and when these measures expire. Faculty and students of
Columbia Law School and students of Columbia University Mailman School of Public
Health and University of Pennsylvania Law School compiled the spreadsheet and keep it
updated.
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Information on emergency rental assistance:
State Housing Finance Agency Emergency Rental Assistance Programs (National
Council of State Housing Agencies [NCSHA], an advocacy group)
This resource lists COVID-19 rental assistance programs implemented by state agencies
only. It includes eligibility criteria for participants and provides links to relevant state
website.
State and Local Emergency Rental Assistance (National Low Income Housing Coalition
[NLIHC], an advocacy group)
This resource al ows users to view COVID-19 emergency rental assistance programs
implemented by state and local governments. NLIHC compiles information regarding
relevant programs and data are available in map and table format.
Guidance for Renters
The following resources provide additional information to renters regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.
Information for renters in federally related properties:
Renters in Public Housing or with Housing Choice Vouchers (HUD)
Renters in HUD Multifamily Housing (HUD)
Renters in Fannie Mae Multifamily Housing (Fannie Mae)
Renters in Freddie Mac Multifamily Housing (Freddie Mac)
Renters in RHS Multifamily Housing (USDA)
Note: Scroll down to FAQs, see “Multi-Family Housing”
Protections for Renters (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau)
Renters facing eviction may seek assistance from housing counselors or legal servic es organizations for
help in resolving housing issues.
Locate Housing Counseling Agencies (HUD)
HUD-approved housing counseling agencies can provide assistance with rental issues.
Some agencies may also provide assistance with financial budgeting and credit issues.
Find Legal Help by State (Legal Service Corporation [LSC])
This lists legal services organizations funded by LSC, a private, nonprofit, federal y
funded corporation that helps provide legal assistance to low-income populations in civil
matters by distributing grants to local legal services providers.
Author Information
Alyse N. Minter
Research Librarian
Congressional Research Service
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Disclaimer
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to congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of
Congress. Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of
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IN11498 · VERSION 5 · UPDATED