Pandemic Relief: The Emergency Rental
September 8, 2021
Assistance Program
Grant A. Driessen
In response to concerns about the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on renters and
Specialist in Public Finance
their landlords, Congress created a $25 billion Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program in

the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Division N of P.L. 116-260). A second round of
Maggie McCarty
ERA funding—$21.55 billion—was included in Section 3201 of the American Rescue Plan Act
Specialist in Housing Policy
(P.L. 117-2).

The ERA program is funded through the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) that was established by
Libby Perl
the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act, P.L. 116-136) and
Specialist in Housing Policy
implemented by the Department of the Treasury. The ERA directed resources to states, localities,

and tribes via a per capita formula allocation. The second round of ERA funding included a set-
aside of $2.5 billion for “high need” grantees and did not include a set-aside for tribes.
For a copy of the ful report,
please cal 7-5700 or visit
www.crs.gov.
P.L. 116-260 established various parameters for how the first round of ERA funding (ERA-1)
can be used. Among other requirements, states and localities must use the bulk of funds for financial assistance, which is
defined to include rental assistance and utility assistance (including payment of arrearages). Remaining funds may be used
for housing stability services (case management and other supports to help families retain their housing) and administrative
expenses. Renters are eligible for assistance if they are low-income, experiencing financial hardship, and at risk of
homelessness or housing insecurity. Grantees are directed to prioritize very low-income renters for assistance. The law also
established obligation and expenditure deadlines and imposed various reporting requirements on the Treasury Secretary.
These parameters were changed somewhat for the second round of ERA funding under P.L. 117-2. Specifically, the amount
that can be spent on administrative expenses was increased, and grantees may be able to use funds that remain unobligated as
of October 1, 2022, for a broader range of affordable housing and eviction prevention activities. P.L. 117-2 also extended the
availability of first round ERA funding from December 31, 2021, to September 30, 2022.
Within the statutory requirements—and any additional guidance established by Treasury—states and localities have
flexibility in designing their rental assistance programs. The ability of states and localities to structure their programs
differently means that the experience of similarly situated renters seeking assistance will likely vary geographically .
Similarly, there may be geographic variability in the degree to which existing resources—both ERA and other funds—are
adequate to meet demand for rental assistance and the speed at which grantees are able to disburse assistance.
Treasury data on spending of ERA-1 funds showed that less than $5 billion of the $25 billion in ERA-1 funding allocated to
states and localities had been spent on household rent, utilities, and arrears during the first seven months of the program
(through the end of July 2021). The rate of expenditure of ERA-1 funds has caused some to raise concerns about the
effectiveness of the program in preventing evictions as eviction moratoriums end and addressing the backlog of rent and
utility debt (estimates of which have ranged from more than $20 billion to more than $50 billion). Grantees with excess
unobligated ERA-1 funds may be subject to recapture and reallocation of those funds beginning September 30, 2021.
Congressional Research Service

Pandemic Relief: The Emergency Rental Assistance Program

Introduction
The Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program was created to help cover the unmet rent and
utility expenses of low-income households affected by the economic consequences of the
COVID-19 pandemic. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. 116-260) initial y funded
the ERA program with an appropriation of $25 bil ion.1 The ERA was funded through the
Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF), a program created as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and
Economic Security (CARES) Act (P.L. 116-136), and administered by the Department of the
Treasury, to assist state, local, territorial, and tribal governments.2 While the CARES Act CRF
appropriation could be used for multiple purposes, the ERA appropriation in P.L. 116-260 was
directed only to rent and utility assistance and related housing stability services. A second
appropriation—of $21.550 bil ion—for ERA was included in Section 3201 of the American
Rescue Plan Act (P.L. 117-2).
This report briefly describes the need for rental assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic,
provides information about the al ocation of ERA funds, describes the parameters of the ERA
program, and discusses outstanding questions about the program and renter needs.
Background: Rental Assistance During the
COVID-19 Pandemic
Even before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, low-income renters struggled with housing
affordability. The Joint Center on Housing Studies reported that in 2018, nearly half (48%) of al
renters were cost burdened (i.e., paying more than 30% of their income in rent), with higher
numbers for lower-income (80%), Black (55%), and Hispanic (53%) renters.3 The pandemic may
have made renter housing arrangements even more precarious. Renters have been more likely to
lose employment income than homeowners.4 This is particularly the case for Black and Hispanic
renters, who are also estimated to face the greatest threat of eviction during the pandemic .5
Mil ions of renters report being behind on their rent, lacking confidence in their ability to pay
next month’s rent, and facing a likelihood of leaving their housing due to eviction.6

1 See Division N, T itle V, Section 501 of P.L. 116-260.
2 For more information about CRF in the CARES Act, see CRS Report R46298, General State and Local Fiscal
Assistance and COVID-19: Background and Available Data .
3 Joint Center for Housing Studies, America’s Rental Housing 2020, January 2020, pp. 26-29,
https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/reports/files/Harvard_JCHS_Americas_Rental_Housing_2020.pdf.
4 Alexander Hermann and Sharon Cornelissen, Using the Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey to Assess the
Econom ic Im pacts of COVID-19 on Am erica’s Households, Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, July 2, 2020,
https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/blog/using-the-census-bureaus-household-pulse-survey-to-assess-the-economic-impacts-
of-covid-19-on-americas-households/.
5 Whitney Airgood-Obrycki, “ T he Impact of COVID-19 on Renters and Rental Markets,” Harvard Joint Center for
Housing Studies virtual event, September 4, 2020, https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/calendar/impact -covid-19-renters-and-
rental-markets. See also, Sophia Wedeen, Black and Hispanic Renters Face Greatest Threat of Eviction in Pandem ic ,
Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, January 11, 2021, https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/blog/black-and-hispanic-
renters-face-greatest -threat-eviction-pandemic.
6 T he Census Bureau has surveyed samples of households on their pandemic-related housing situations every two
weeks since the beginning of the pandemic, starting on April 23, 2020. As of the date of this report, data was most
recently available for the two-week period from August 4, 2021, through August 16, 2021. See Census Bureau Pulse
survey data, available at https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/household-pulse-survey/data.html.
Congressional Research Service

1

Pandemic Relief: The Emergency Rental Assistance Program

Efforts to assist renters include eviction moratoriums at the state and federal levels. A national
eviction moratorium issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention took effect on
September 4, 2020, and was extended several times before it expired on August 1, 2021.
Following the expiration of the moratorium, CDC issued a new eviction moratorium, on August
3, 2021, applicable in areas with substantial and high rates of community spread of COVID-19.
However, on August 26, 2021, the Supreme Court blocked enforcement of the new eviction
moratorium, al owing evictions to proceed in areas that do not have their own state or local
eviction moratoriums.7
While the moratoriums may prevent eviction for nonpayment of rent, they do not prevent
arrearages from accumulating, which could result in eviction when moratoriums lift. These
missed rent payments also affect landlords. This may particularly result in hardship for smal er
landlords, who are estimated to have lower incomes and make up larger shares of Black and
Hispanic landlords.8 At the end of January 2021, it was estimated that total rental arrears were
$57 bil ion;9 more recent estimates suggest the total may be closer to $20 bil ion.10
At the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, some states and localities used federal funds
appropriated as part of the CARES Act, including funds distributed through CRF, to operate
rental assistance programs.11 Further, households may have drawn on CARES Act stimulus
checks, expanded unemployment benefits, and borrowing to cover rent. However, some of these
sources of funds became depleted as the pandemic continued.12
Organizations representing both tenants and landlords advocated for additional federal funds to
help tenants pay their rent.13 Legislation was introduced in the 116th Congress that would have
provided as much as $100 bil ion to help tenants pay rent.14 Ultimately, Congress appropriated
nearly $47 bil ion for emergency rent and utility assistance through ERA.

7 For more information, see CRS Insight IN11673, The CDC’s Federal Eviction Moratorium .
8 Small landlords in the analysis are those owning 2-4 unit properties; Jung Hyun Choi and Caitlin Young, Owners and
Renters of 6.2 Million Units in Sm all Buildings Are Particularly Vulnerable during the Pandem ic, T he Urban Institute,
August 10, 2020, https://www.urban.org/urban-wire/owners-and-renters-62-million-units-small-buildings-are-
particularly-vulnerable-during-pandemic.
9 Jim Parrott and Mark M. Zandi, Averting an Eviction Crisis, Urban Institute, January 25, 2021,
https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/103532/averting-an-eviction-crisis.pdf (hereinafter, “ Averting an
Eviction Crisis”).
10 Sarah T reuhaft, Rent Debt in America: Stabilizing Renters Is Key to Equitable Recovery, National Equity Atlas,
August 10, 2021, https://nationalequityatlas.org/rent-debt-in-america (hereinafter, “ Rent Debt in Am erica”).
11 See examples from the National Conference of State Legislatures, which tracks the ways in which states are using
their CRF allocations: https://www.ncsl.org/research/fiscal-policy/state-actions-on-coronavirus-relief-funds.aspx.
12 Averting an Eviction Crisis.
13 See, for example, National Housing Conference, “31 housing organizations tell administration and Congress to
immediately return to negotiations,” press release, August 21, 2020, https://nhc.org/press-release/31-housing-
organizations-tell-administration-and-congress-to-immediately-return-to-negotiations/.
14 See the Heroes Act (H.R. 6800) and the Emergency Rental Assistance and Rental Market Stabilization Act (H.R.
6820, S. 3685).
Congressional Research Service

2

Pandemic Relief: The Emergency Rental Assistance Program

State and Local Allocations
P.L. 116-260 (ERA-1)
P.L. 116-260 provided a total of $25.000 bil ion in ERA support to governments in states,
territories, and tribal areas. Payments (denoted as ERA-1 payments here and in Treasury
documentation) are distributed across these jurisdictions as follows:
 $23.785 bil ion is al ocated for governments in the 50 states and the District of
Columbia (DC) based on their populations (as projected by the U.S. Census
Bureau for July 2020),15 with no state receiving less than $0.200 bil ion;
 $0.800 bil ion is set aside for governments in tribal areas, with individual
government al ocations distributed in proportion to relative payments made under
the Native American Housing Block Program in FY2020;16
 $0.400 bil ion is al ocated to the territories of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin
Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa, with $0.325
bil ion provided to Puerto Rico and $0.075 bil ion distributed to the remaining
territories based on their relative population share; and
 $0.015 bil ion is set aside to cover federal administrative costs related to program
implementation.
ERA-1 payments are general y provided to state (or territorial) governments, though state
governments may transfer any funds received to local governments so long as funds are used for
eligible purposes. Local governments serving a population of at least 200,000 (as measured by the
U.S. Census Bureau in 2019),17 may elect to receive assistance directly from Treasury. Any
payments made directly to localities reduce the al ocation made to the state government (keeping
the total amount provided across each state constant), and are the product of (1) the state or
territorial al ocation amount, (2) the percentage of the state or territorial population attributable to
the local government, and (3) 45%.
In many cases, populations are served by more than one local government that is eligible for
direct assistance from the CRF (e.g., a city with a population of 300,000 located in a county with
200,000 other people and thus having a county population of 500,000). Treasury clarified that in
such cases, al overlapping governments are eligible for assistance.18 However, direct assistance
payments to larger localities is calculated using only their unique population, or wil be reduced
by any amounts also attributable to smal er localities receiving assistance (i.e., in the above

15 U.S. Census Bureau, “Vintage 2020 Population Estimates for the United States and States,” December 2020,
https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/technical-documentation/research/evaluation-estimates.html.
Allocations are determined by total state populations, including nonrenters; for recent estimates of state renter
populations, see U.S. Census Bureau, “American Community Survey 2015 -2019 5-Year Data Release,” December
2020, https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-kits/2020/acs-5-year.html.
16 For more on the Native American Housing Block Grant program, see CRS Report R43307, The Native American
Housing Assistance and Self-Determ ination Act of 1996 (NAHASDA): Background and Funding, by Katie Jones.
17 U.S. Census Bureau, “Subcounty Resident Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2019,” May 2020,
https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2010s-total-cities-and-towns.html.
18 U.S. T reasury, “Emergency Rental Assistance Program: Data and Methodology for State, Local Government, and
T erritory Allocations,” January 2021, https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/Emergency-Rental-Assistance-Data-
and-Methodology-1-11-21.pdf.
Congressional Research Service

3

link to page 8 Pandemic Relief: The Emergency Rental Assistance Program

example, the county government would only use a population of 200,000 for its direct payment
calculation).
P.L. 117-2 (ERA-2)
P.L. 117-2 appropriated a total of $21.550 bil ion in ERA support to governments in states and
territories. Unlike P.L. 116-260, P.L. 117-2 did not include a separate al ocation of funds for tribal
governments, and the payments were classified as mandatory spending rather than discretionary
spending. Payments (denoted as ERA-2 payments here and in Treasury documentation) are
distributed across these jurisdictions as follows:
 $18.712 bil ion is al ocated for governments in the 50 states and the District of
Columbia (DC) based on their populations (as projected by the U.S. Census
Bureau for July 2020),19 with no state receiving less than $0.152 bil ion;
 $0.305 bil ion is al ocated to the territories of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin
Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa, with $0.240
bil ion provided to Puerto Rico and $0.065 bil ion distributed to the remaining
territories based on their relative population share;
 $2.500 bil ion is set aside for high-need grantees, to be distributed by the
Treasury Secretary using statistics on high-need housing, rental market costs, and
unemployment (ERA-2 High Need); and
 $0.033 bil ion is set aside to cover federal administrative costs related to program
implementation.
Direct local al ocation identifications, calculations, and division of payments across overlapping
governments in P.L. 117-2 are consistent with the methodology from P.L. 116-260. However, P.L.
117-2 directed that ERA-2 funds be staggered in their distribution. Specifical y, Treasury was
directed to distribute no less than the first 40% of ERA-2 funds within 60 days of enactment, with
the remainder to be distributed after grantees expend 75% of their initial ERA-2 al ocation.20
Table 1 shows ERA-1 and ERA-2 al ocations and estimates broken out by state and territory, and
government level.21

19 U.S. Census Bureau, “Vintage 2020 Population Estimates for the United States and States,” December 2020,
https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/technical-documentation/research/evaluation-estimates.html.
Allocations are determined by total state populations, including nonrenters; for recent estimates of state renter
populations, see U.S. Census Bureau, “ American Community Survey 2015 -2019 5-Year Data Release,” December
2020, https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-kits/2020/acs-5-year.html.
20 See P.L. 117-2, §3201(c) available at https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/1319/
text#H61B6162AB8EC496ABB590ADA8F6898FF.
21 U.S. T reasury, “Emergency Rental Assistance Program,” May 2021, https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/
coronavirus/assistance-for-state-local-and-tribal-governments/emergency-rental-assistance-program.
Congressional Research Service

4

Pandemic Relief: The Emergency Rental Assistance Program

Table 1. Emergency Rental Assistance Allocations in P.L. 116-260 (ERA-1) and P.L.
117-2 (ERA-2, ERA-2 High Need)
(Al al ocations in mil ions of dol ars)

Allocations to State Governments
Allocations to Local Governments

ERA-2
ERA-2
State or
High
High
Grand
Territory
ERA-1
ERA-2
Need
ERA-1
ERA-2
Need
Total
Alabama
263
208
21
63
50
10
616
Alaska
165
125
0
35
27
0
352
American
10
9
0
0
0
0
19
Samoa
Arizona
290
229
0
203
160
39
920
Arkansas
174
137
0
27
22
0
360
California
1,498
1,185
26
1,113
881
495
5,197
Colorado
248
196
0
137
109
29
719
Connecticut
236
187
35
0
0
0
457
Delaware
200
152
0
0
0
0
352
District of
200
152
0
0
0
0
352
Columbia
Florida
872
689
51
570
451
124
2,757
Georgia
552
437
42
158
125
34
1,348
Guam
33
29
0
0
0
0
62
Hawai
125
95
0
75
57
14
366
Idaho
176
134
0
24
18
0
352
Il inois
566
448
32
268
212
70
1,597
Indiana
372
294
32
76
60
11
845
Iowa
195
154
0
15
12
0
376
Kansas
169
129
0
31
23
0
353
Kentucky
264
209
24
33
26
6
562
Louisiana
249
197
0
59
47
18
570
Maine
200
152
0
0
0
0
352
Maryland
258
204
0
143
114
34
754
Massachusetts
421
333
55
36
29
20
893
Michigan
623
493
25
38
30
45
1,254
Minnesota
289
229
0
86
68
18
690
Mississippi
187
145
0
13
10
2
358
Missouri
324
256
23
84
67
18
772
Montana
200
152
0
0
0
0
352
Nebraska
159
121
0
41
31
5
357
Nevada
125
99
0
83
66
21
394
Congressional Research Service

5

Pandemic Relief: The Emergency Rental Assistance Program

Allocations to State Governments
Allocations to Local Governments

ERA-2
ERA-2
State or
High
High
Grand
Territory
ERA-1
ERA-2
Need
ERA-1
ERA-2
Need
Total
New
179
136
0
21
16
0
352
Hampshire
New Jersey
354
280
0
235
186
86
1,141
New Mexico
161
123
0
39
29
6
358
New York
801
634
39
481
381
258
2,594
North
547
432
57
156
124
14
1,331
Carolina
North
200
152
0
0
0
0
352
Dakota
Northern
10
9
0
0
0
0
19
Mariana
Islands
Ohio
565
447
49
210
167
39
1,476
Oklahoma
210
166
0
54
43
12
485
Oregon
204
162
0
77
61
22
526
Pennsylvania
570
451
49
278
220
43
1,610
Puerto Rico
325
240
0
0
0
0
565
Rhode Island
200
152
0
0
0
0
352
South
272
215
31
74
59
0
651
Carolina
South Dakota
200
152
0
0
0
0
352
Tennessee
383
303
29
73
58
16
862
Texas
1,308
1,035
66
639
506
133
3,686
U.S. Virgin
21
18
0
0
0
0
40
Islands
Utah
150
119
0
65
52
6
392
Vermont
200
152
0
0
0
0
352
Virginia
525
415
43
45
36
15
1,079
Washington
322
255
24
188
149
41
979
West Virginia
200
152
0
0
0
0
352
Wisconsin
322
255
26
65
51
16
735
Wyoming
200
152
0
0
0
0
352
Al Tribal
800
0
0
0
0
0
800
Governments
Totals
18,305
14,195
779
6,680
4,822
1,721
46,502
Source: U.S. Treasury, “Emergency Rental Assistance Program,” May 2021, https://home.treasury.gov/policy-
issues/cares/emergency-rental-assistance-program.
Congressional Research Service

6

Pandemic Relief: The Emergency Rental Assistance Program

Notes: Recipients may choose to transfer funds to governments within their jurisdiction, but are not obligated
to do so. Sums may not equal totals due to rounding.

State and Local Distribution Information
Treasury and stakeholder groups have assembled various resources to provide information on state and local ERA
programs.
For detailed state and local al ocations under ERA-1 and ERA-2, Treasury provides information on its website:

ERA-1: https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/Emergency-Rental-Assistance-Payments-to-States-and-
Eligible-Units-of-Local-Government.pdf

ERA-2: https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/ERA2_Allocations_Eligible_Entities_572021.pdf
Treasury also periodical y releases data on program expenditures by grantee:

See https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/coronavirus/assistance-for-state-local-and-tribal-
governments/emergency-rental-assistance-program (scrol to the bottom of the page)
To identify specific grantees and programs in states and localities, Treasury has developed a program locator tool:

See https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/coronavirus/assistance-for-state-local-and-tribal-
governments/emergency-rental-assistance-program/program-index
The National Low Income Housing Coalition (a nonprofit advocacy organization) has developed a set of tools for
analyzing selected features of state and local ERA programs as wel as a spending tracker:

See https://nlihc.org/era-dashboard
ERA Program Parameters
When P.L. 116-260 created the ERA program under the CRF, it established parameters for how
the funds could and should be spent. Treasury has issued Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and
other guidance documents regarding how certain aspects of the law are to be applied.22 For the
second round of ERA funding, P.L. 117-2 made some changes that are applicable to the first
round of funding (i.e., expenditure deadlines); and others that are applicable only to the second
round (i.e., income eligibility and a different cap on administrative expenses). Treasury has
revised its FAQs multiple times to reflect the requirements of both ERA-1 and ERA-2 and in
response to stakeholder feedback.23
As noted, ERA funds are provided from Treasury to states and localities, which can use the funds
to design their own rental assistance programs within the requirements of the law and Treasury
guidance. Some states and localities were able to use the new funds to supplement existing rental
assistance programs created with CARES Act or other funds, to the extent their existing programs
aligned with the emergency rental assistance statutory requirements (which are outlined below);
others had to develop new programs from scratch.

22 T reasury guidance can be found at https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/cares/emergency-rental-assistance-
program.
23 T reasury has revised FAQs in February, March, May, June, and August of 2021. See the February FAQs at
https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/ERA-Frequently-Asked-Questions_Pub-2-22-21.pdf, March FAQs at
https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/ERA-Frequently-Asked-Questions_Pub-3-16-21.pdf, May FAQs at
https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/ERA2FAQs%205-6-21.pdf (hereinafter, “ Treasury May 7, 2021, FAQs”),
June FAQs at https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/ERA_FAQs_6-24-21.pdf (hereinafter, “ Treasury June 24,
2021, FAQs”), and August FAQs at https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/ERA-FAQ-8-25-2021.pdf (hereinafter,
“T reasury August 25, 2021, FAQs”).
Congressional Research Service

7

link to page 12 link to page 12 Pandemic Relief: The Emergency Rental Assistance Program

Eligible Use of Funds
P.L. 116-260 directed that 90% of ERA funds be spent on direct financial assistance and that up to
10% could be spent on administrative expenses and housing stability services.24 Note that
Treasury guidance further interpreted these limits; see the “Administrative Costs and Housing
Stability Services” section.
For the second round of ERA funding, P.L. 117-2 directed that no more than 15% be spent on
administrative expenses and 10% be spent on housing stability services, leaving at least 75% to
be spent on direct financial assistance.
Financial Assistance
P.L. 116-260 defined financial assistance as assistance to tenants for
 rent and rental arrears,
 utilities and home energy costs and arrears, and
 other expenses related to housing incurred due, directly or indirectly, to the
COVID-19 outbreak, as defined by the Treasury Secretary.
The definition of financial assistance under P.L. 117-2 is nearly identical, except when it comes to
other expenses related to housing. The P.L. 117-2 definition does not require that the expenses be
related to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Treasury issued an FAQ document in January 2021 clarifying that telecommunications services
are not considered utilities under this program.25 However, Treasury later revised the FAQs to
define “other expenses” eligible for assistance to include internet service, if it al ows renters to
engage in distance learning, telework, and telemedicine and obtain government services.26
Additional “other expenses” identified in the FAQ include relocation expenses and rental fees (if
a household has been displaced due to COVID-19), and accrued late fees.
Length of Assistance
Under P.L. 116-260, assistance can be provided for no more than 12 months, with the possibility
of one 3-month extension. Payments made for prospective rent are subject to additional
limitations; they can only be provided in 3-month increments and only if rental arrearages are
addressed.
Under the terms of P.L. 117-2, recipients can receive no more than 18 months of assistance under
both rounds of ERA combined.
Treasury’s May 7, 2021, FAQs clarified that grantees must prohibit landlords from evicting
tenants for nonpayment of rent during the period for which they have received prospective rent
payments. Treasury’s guidance also encourages grantees to set policies prohibiting landlords who

24 T reasury’s initial guidance interpreted this 10% limitation as applying to both administrative fees and housing
stability services combined. Subsequent guidance has amended that interpretation to allow grantees to use up to 1 0% of
ERA-1 funds for housing stability services, and up to 10% of total funds for administrative expenses.
25 See the January FAQ at https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/ERA-Frequently-Asked-Questions_Pub-1-19-
21.pdf.
26 See the February FAQ revision at https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/ERA-Frequently-Asked-
Questions_Pub-2-22-21.pdf, FAQ 7, p. 4.
Congressional Research Service

8

link to page 11 Pandemic Relief: The Emergency Rental Assistance Program

receive payment for rental arrearages from evicting tenants for nonpayment of rent for some
period, consistent with applicable law.27
Payments
P.L. 116-260 directed that payments be made directly to landlords or utility providers, but it
al ows payments to be made directly to tenants if landlords or utility providers are unwil ing to
accept such payments. According to the May 7, 2021, FAQs, Treasury has reduced the amount of
time grantees must wait for landlords or utility providers to respond to outreach efforts before
making payments directly to tenants.28
Landlords are permitted to aid their tenants in applying for assistance, or they may apply directly.
Landlords who apply directly must meet certain conditions (including obtaining tenant signatures,
notifying tenants of the application, and ensuring any funds received are applied to tenants’ rental
obligations).
The requirements in P.L. 117-2 are not as specific about landlord involvement, and, according to
guidance in the May 7, 2021, FAQs, grantees may use their ERA-2 funding to offer assistance
directly to tenants without first attempting to contact landlords or utility providers.29
Additional y, a revision to the FAQs issued on June 24, 2021, permitted grantees to enter into data
sharing agreements and bulk payment arrangements for large landlords and utility providers.30
The August revisions to the FAQs al ow grantees to make bulk payments to landlords and utility
providers in advance of tenant eligibility determination, as long as application and documentation
requirements are met within six months.31
The August FAQs further al ow that, upon the request of a tenant, a grantee may provide
assistance for rental and utility arrears after an otherwise eligible tenant has vacated a unit.32
Administrative Costs and Housing Stability Services
Under P.L. 116-260, the remaining 10% of grant funds can be used for grantee administrative
costs and housing stability services, which Treasury has interpreted as al owing grantees to use up
to 10% of grant amounts each for housing stability services and administrative costs.33
P.L. 116-260 defined “housing stability services” as case management and other services related
to COVID-19, to be defined by the Secretary, that are intended to keep tenants stably housed. It
restricted administrative expenses to those tied to providing financial assistance and housing
stability services, including for data collection and reporting requirements.
P.L. 117-2 established a cap of up to 15% of total grant funding for administrative expenses and
up to 10% for housing stability services. The law defined “housing stability services” as case
management and other services intended to keep households stably housed, without reference to
COVID-19. It defined “administrative expenses” as those included under P.L. 116-260, as wel as
costs associated with other affordable rental housing and eviction prevention activities.

27 T reasury May 7, 2021, FAQs, FAQ 32, p. 14.
28 T reasury May 7, 2021, FAQs, FAQ 12, p. 8.
29 T reasury May 7, 2021, FAQs, FAQ 12, p. 8.
30 T reasury June 24, 2021, FAQs, FAQ 38, p. 16.
31 T reasury August 25, 2021, FAQs, FAQ 38, p. 17.
32 T reasury August 25, 2021, FAQs, FAQ 40, p. 17.
33 See footnote 24.
Congressional Research Service

9

Pandemic Relief: The Emergency Rental Assistance Program

Individual Eligibility and Prioritization
P.L. 116-260 established a three-part eligibility test based on income level, income loss or other
financial hardship, and risk of homelessness or housing instability. It also established a set of
income targeting requirements to guide states and localities in prioritizing assistance. P.L. 117-2
largely adopted the same requirements, but with some changes.
Eligibility
Under P.L. 116-260, to be eligible for direct financial assistance or housing stability services,
households must be renters and
 low-income, defined (consistent with federal housing law) as having income at or
below 80% of local area median income as established by the Department of
Housing and Urban Development (HUD);
 experiencing financial hardship, as evidenced by receipt of unemployment
benefits or a written attestation of other financial hardship (income loss or
increased expenses) related directly or indirectly to the COVID-19 pandemic;
and
 have at least one member at risk of homelessness or housing instability, as
evidenced by past due rent or utility notices (including eviction notices), unsafe
living conditions, or other evidence as established by the grantee.
The eligibility definition in P.L. 117-2 does not include the detail as to how an individual can
demonstrate a risk of homelessness or housing insecurity that was included in P.L. 116-260; nor
does it require that financial hardship be related to the COVID-19 pandemic. A household is
eligible for assistance under ERA-2 as long as hardship has occurred due to or during the
pandemic.
Neither law addresses noncitizen eligibility for assistance under the ERA program.34
Prioritization
P.L. 116-260 directs grantees to prioritize the following individuals for direct financial assistance
and housing stability services:
 very low-income tenants, defined (consistent with federal housing law) as having
income at or below 50% of local area median income as established by HUD;
and
 applicants who are unemployed and have been unemployed for the prior 90 days.
The law permits states and localities to further establish their own prioritization policies.
P.L. 117-2 made these provisions applicable to the second round of ERA funding.

34 Some questions have arisen as to whether noncitizen eligibility restrictions under the Personal Responsibility and
Work Responsibility Act of 1996 (PRWORA; T itle IV of P.L. 104-193, as amended) apply to assistance under the
ERA program. T o date, T reasury has not issued guidance on the applicability of PRWORA noncitizen restrictions to
these funds. For more information about PRWORA’s restrictions, see CRS Report R46510, PRWORA’s Restrictions on
Noncitizen Eligibility for Federal Public Benefits: Legal Issues.
Congressional Research Service

10

Pandemic Relief: The Emergency Rental Assistance Program

Documentation
P.L. 116-260 specifies that grantees may determine an applicant’s income eligibility based on
annual income or current monthly income (subject to three-month recertification).
P.L. 117-2 does not include provisions related to income determination.
Treasury’s May 7, 2021, FAQs state: “Treasury strongly encourages grantees to avoid
establishing documentation requirements that are likely to be barriers to participation for eligible
households.”35 For example, the FAQs say a grantee may rely on an applicant’s self-attestation of
income under certain circumstances.36
Funding Availability and Reallocation
P.L. 116-260 made first round ERA funds available to grantees through December 31, 2021; the
deadline was subsequently extended to September 30, 2022, by P.L. 117-2. However, beginning
September 30, 2021, the Treasury Secretary is directed to recapture any “excess” unobligated
funds (as determined by the Secretary) and to real ocate them to grantees that have obligated at
least 65% of their ERA-1 funds for eligible purposes. Grantees receiving real ocated funds may
request up to a 90-day extension of availability deadline. As of the date of this report, Treasury
has not issued any guidance regarding how it wil define “excess” unobligated funds held by
grantees and when they plan to conduct the recapture and real ocation.37
Funding provided through P.L. 117-2 is available until September 30, 2025. Beginning March 31,
2022, the Treasury Secretary is directed to real ocate undisbursed funds38 to grantees that have
obligated 50% or more of their total al ocated funds. These real ocated funds can only be used for
financial assistance. Grantees that have obligated at least 75% of their funds for eligible purposes
as of October 1, 2022, may obligate remaining unobligated funds for a broader range of other
affordable rental housing and eviction prevention purposes for very low-income families.
Reporting Requirements
The Treasury Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, is
required under P.L. 116-260 to provide quarterly reports on a number of specified program
indicators, including the number of households served by the program, their income profiles, the
acceptance rate of applicants, and the types and amounts of assistance. Grantees must establish
data privacy guidelines for collecting information. Treasury has begun publishing data from these
reports on its website.39

35 T reasury May 7, 2021, FAQs, FAQ 1, p. 2.
36 T reasury May 7, 2021, FAQs, FAQ 4, p. 5.
37 A group of national organizations representing ERA program grantees released a set of joint recommendations on
how T reasury should use the flexibility in the law when conducting the recapture and reallocation process. See
https://www.ncsha.org/wp-content/uploads/Principles-for-Emergency-Rental-Assistance-Program-Reallocations.pdf.
38 As noted earlier, P.L. 117-2 directed T reasury to disburse ERA-2 funding allocations in phases, based on grantee
spending rates. Specifically, T reasury was directed to distribute no less than the first 40% of ERA -2 funds within 60
days of enactment, with the remainder to be distributed after grantees expend 75% of their initial ERA -2 allocation. It
is these undisbursed ERA-2 funds held by T reasury that are subject to potential reallocation.
39 See https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/coronavirus/assistance-for-state-local-and-tribal-governments/
emergency-rental-assistance-program.
Congressional Research Service

11

Pandemic Relief: The Emergency Rental Assistance Program

P.L. 117-2 did not contain reporting requirements for ERA-2. Treasury’s May 7, 2021, FAQs
encouraged ERA-2 grantees to comply with the data privacy and security requirements
established for ERA-1.40 Treasury subsequently released reporting guidance applicable to both
ERA-1 and ERA-2 grantees.41
Outstanding Questions
This section discusses possible questions about the implementation of the ERA program.
How are local programs structured?
States and localities are charged with distributing ERA assistance to eligible renters based on a
limited set of program parameters. Within those parameters, states and localities have authority to
determine, for example,
 who wil administer assistance (i.e., a government entity vs. a nonprofit or
community partner);
 how to prioritize among the eligible uses of the funds (e.g., arrears vs.
prospective payments; utilities vs. rent);
 how to ration limited benefits (e.g., lotteries for assistance vs. first-come first-
served or referral-based processes);
 whether and how to further prioritize applicants (e.g., adopting deeper income
targeting than is required by law);
 how much documentation to require of applicants and for recertification periods;
 the amount and duration of benefits provided;
 whether to place conditions on the recipients of assistance (e.g., requiring
landlords to accept partial payment to reduce debt obligations, prohibiting
landlords that accept payment from pursuing eviction); and
 whether and what to provide in terms of housing stability services.
One factor that may influence state and local decisions is the extent to which any previous
emergency rental assistance programs they administered already met, or could be easily adjusted
to meet, the requirements for ERA funding. To the extent states and localities were able to fund
existing programs with their ERA dollars instead of having to establish new programs, the
assistance could potential y be distributed more quickly. Treasury found this to be the case in a
“Key Findings” interim reporting document issued in July 2021.42
The ability of state and local governments to structure their programs differently means that the
experience of similarly situated renters seeking emergency rental assistance wil likely vary
geographical y. How and whether individual renters are made aware of the availability of ERA

40 T reasury May 7, 2021, FAQs, FAQ 14, p. 9.
41 See ERA Reporting Guidance, issued June 30, 2021, at https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/ERA-Reporting-
Guidance.pdf.
42 U.S. T reasury, “Emergency Rental Assistance Data Shows Programs Ramping Up, but States and Localities Must Do
More to Accelerate Aid,” p. 4, available at https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/2021-07-02-ERA-Data-Blog-
Post -vF.pdf.
Congressional Research Service

12

Pandemic Relief: The Emergency Rental Assistance Program

funds in their communities; their individual eligibility and likelihood of being assisted; and how
to access available assistance are currently uncertain.
Treasury’s June FAQ revision included encouragement for grantees to coordinate to reduce
barriers and delays in providing assistance created by differences in local programs in the same
region. The agency also released “promising practices” to ensure assistance can quickly reach
renters in need.43
Will rental assistance prevent loss of housing?
Both the amount and geographic distribution of ERA funding, as wel as how quickly it is
distributed, could determine the extent to which the assistance may help protect renters from
eviction.
Because there is no definitive estimate of renters in arrears and the amounts they owe, it is
unknown whether al renters who are behind wil be able to receive assistance with available
funding. Estimates of the need for rental assistance vary and may depend on the data source and
methodology (which are not examined in this report).44 Research released in January 2021
predicted that the first round of ERA rental assistance would be insufficient to meet the needs of
al delinquent renters.45 Since that time, P.L. 117-2 funded another $21.550 bil ion in rental
assistance as wel as additional direct aid to individuals via stimulus payments and refundable
child tax credits. Newer estimates project rental arrearages to be less than total ERA funding.46
Whether existing ERA funding wil be sufficient to address outstanding arrearages and avoid
widespread housing disruption when eviction moratoriums end is yet to be seen.
More recently, the speed and effectiveness of the distribution of ERA funds has been of
increasing concern to stakeholders and policymakers. The need for more time to distribute ERA
assistance to eligible households to forestal evictions was asserted by the Administration in its
June 2021 extension of the CDC eviction moratorium (through the end of July)47 and in its
issuance of a new eviction moratorium in August 2021 (through October 3, 2021).48 (The CDC’s
federal eviction moratorium was made unenforceable as the result of a Supreme Court decision
on August 26, 2021.49)

43 See https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/coronavirus/assistance-for-state-local-and-tribal-governments/
emergency-rental-assistance-program/promising-practices.
44 Various estimates made in 2020 predicted arrears of $7 billion, $25 -$34 billion, and $70 billion by the end of the
year. See Davin Reed and Eileen Divringi, Household Rental Debt During COVID-19, Federal Reserve Bank of
Philadelphia, October 2020, https://www.philadelphiafed.org/-/media/frbp/assets/community-development/reports/
household-rental-debt-during-covid-19.pdf; Stout, Risius Ross LLC, Analysis of Current and Expected Rental Shortfall
and Potential Eviction Filings in the U.S., National Council of State Housing Finance Agencies, September 25, 2020,
https://www.ncsha.org/wp-content/uploads/Analysis-of-Current -and-Expected-Rental-Shortfall-and-Potential-
Evictions-in-the-US_Stout_FINAL.pdf; and John Lonski, Weekly Market Outlook: Markets Avoid Great Recession’s
Calam ities, Moody’s Analytics, August 13, 2020, p. 9, https://www.moodysanalytics.com/-/media/article/2020/weekly-
market -outlook-markets-avoid-great-recessions-calamities.pdf.
45 Averting an Eviction Crisis.
46 Rent Debt in America.
47 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Temporary Halt in Residential Evictions to Prevent the Further Spread
of COVID-19,” 86 Federal Register 34010-34018, June 28, 2021, https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2021-13842/p-65.
48 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Temporary Halt in Residential Evictions in Communities With
Substantial or High T ransmission of COVID-19 T o Prevent the Further Spread of COVID-19,” 86 Federal Register
43244-43252, August 6, 2021, https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2021-16945/p-80.
49 For more information, see CRS Legal Sidebar LSB10638, Supreme Court Blocks Enforcement of the CDC’s Eviction
Congressional Research Service

13

Pandemic Relief: The Emergency Rental Assistance Program

At the end of June, Treasury released initial data on ERA-1 expenditures. It found that, of the $25
bil ion al ocated, grantees had spent approximately $1.45 bil ion on rent, utilities, and arrears
from January to May 2021, serving approximately 345,000 unique households, and separately
had committed roughly $1 bil ion to administrative costs and housing stability services. The data
showed spending that was accelerating; roughly half of total spending occurred in the last month
(May) of the reporting period.50 Treasury’s accompanying analysis of these data stated “while
some state and local programs are increasingly reaching households in need, others lag far
behind, and many programs have just launched in recent weeks.”51
On June 24, 2021, the White House announced a series of actions designed to help state and local
governments prevent evictions. These included the previously mentioned June revisions to
Treasury’s ERA FAQs, designed to speed the delivery of assistance; a letter to state and local
courts from the Deputy Attorney General encouraging the adoption of eviction diversion efforts
and guidance on how ERA funds can be used to support such efforts; and implementation of “a
whole-of-government effort to raise awareness about emergency rental assistance.”52 Treasury has
since posted “Promising Practices” for speeding the delivery of aid and eviction diversion to its
website,53 and the White House has hosted two summits on eviction prevention related to
distribution of ERA assistance.54
Treasury has subsequently released two additional months of data on ERA-1 expenditures,
through the end of June and July 2021. These data show that the pace of expenditure continued to
grow in June, with $1.5 bil ion being spent on rent, utilities, and arrears serving approximately
291,000 households in that month alone.55 Total spending increased again in July, but at a slower
pace, with just under $1.7 bil ion spent on rent, utilities, and arrears serving 341,000 households
that month. According to these data, in the first seven months of the program (January-July 2021),
of the $25 bil ion in ERA-1 funding distributed, grantees reported spending just over $4.7 bil ion
on assistance (rent, utilities, and arrears).56

Moratorium .
50 See https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/ERA-Compliance-Report-06302021.xlsx.
51 T reasury Department, “Emergency Rental Assistance Data Shows Programs Ramping Up, but States and Localities
Must Do More to Accelerate Aid,” https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/2021-07-02-ERA-Data-Blog-Post-
vF.pdf.
52 White House, “FACT SHEET : Biden-Harris Administration Announces Initiatives to Promote Housing Stability By
Supporting Vulnerable T enants and Preventing Foreclosures,” June 24, 2021, https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-
room/statements-releases/2021/06/24/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-announces-initiatives-to-promote-housing-
stability-by-supporting-vulnerable-tenants-and-preventing-foreclosures/.
53 See https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/coronavirus/assistance-for-state-local-and-tribal-governments/
emergency-rental-assistance-program.
54 White House, “Readout of the White House Eviction Prevention Summit,” press release, June 30, 2021,
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/06/30/readout -of-the-white-house-eviction-
prevention-summit/; and White House, “ Readout of the Second White House Eviction Prevention Convening,” press
release, July 21, 2021, https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/07/21/readout -of-the-
second-white-house-eviction-prevention-convening/.
55 See https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/July-ERA-data.xlsx.
56 Ibid.
Congressional Research Service

14

Pandemic Relief: The Emergency Rental Assistance Program

Will state and local governments use other federal funding for
rental assistance and eviction prevention?
How state and local governments choose to distribute ERA funds across programs and other
governments may depend on the availability of other federal assistance during the COVID-19
pandemic for rental assistance. Separate from the ERA funding, the federal government provided
a total of $512 bil ion in general assistance to state and local governments through the CARES
Act ($150 bil ion) and P.L. 117-2 ($362 bil ion). General assistance through the CARES Act was
used by government recipients to fund a number of housing initiatives,57 and eligible uses of P.L.
117-2 general assistance include programs “to respond to the public health emergency … or its
negative economic impacts, including assistance to households.”58 The White House fact sheet
released in June 2021 highlighted the authority to use state and local fiscal relief funds for
eviction diversion purposes.59 In late August 2021, following the Supreme Court ruling making
the CDC’s federal eviction moratorium unenforceable, Treasury Secretary Yel en, Attorney
General Garland, and Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development Fudge
sent a joint letter to governors and mayors encouraging the use of state and local general
assistance funds provided in P.L. 117-2 for eviction prevention.60
Treasury published its Interim Final Rule for al owable uses of state and local recovery funds
received through P.L. 117-2 in May 2021.61 The guidance includes an intent to make eligible for
funding programs that respond to the negative economic impacts of the COVID-19 public health
crisis, with emphasis on mitigating any exacerbation of pre-existing economic disparities. The
guidance also al ows for payments to replace lost revenues to the extent that annual own-source
revenue growth is below the greater of (1) 4.1% or (2) the government’s average revenue growth
rate in the three years prior to the COVID-19 crisis. Such revenue replacement can then be used
for the general provision of government services under the Interim Final Rule. The comment
period for the Interim Final Rule closes July 16, 2021, with a Final Rule expected to be released
after those comments have been considered.

57 Pandemic Oversight, “Coronavirus Relief Fund,” accessed March 23, 2021, available at
https://www.pandemicoversight.gov/track-the-money/funding-charts-graphs/coronavirus-relief-fund.
58 42 U.S.C. 801, Section 602(c)(1)(A), which provides eligible uses for the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund.
Identical language is included in statute for the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund.
59 White House, “FACT SHEET : Biden-Harris Administration Announces Initiatives to Promote Housing Stability By
Supporting Vulnerable T enants and Preventing Foreclosures,” June 24, 2021, https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-
room/statements-releases/2021/06/24/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-announces-initiatives-to-promote-housing-
stability-by-supporting-vulnerable-tenants-and-preventing-foreclosures/.
60 U.S. T reasury, “Evict ion Moratorium Joint Letter,” August 27, 2021, available at https://home.treasury.gov/system/
files/136/Eviction-Moratorium-Joint-Letter.pdf.
61 For access to the Interim Final Rule and more information on funding, see T reasury Department, “Coronavirus State
and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds,” May 2021, available at https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/coronavirus/
assistance-for-state-local-and-tribal-governments/state-and-local-fiscal-recovery-funds.
Congressional Research Service

15

Pandemic Relief: The Emergency Rental Assistance Program

Author Information

Grant A. Driessen
Libby Perl
Specialist in Public Finance
Specialist in Housing Policy

Maggie McCarty

Specialist in Housing Policy

Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan
shared staff 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 n ot be relied upon for purposes other
than public understanding of information that has been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in
connection with CRS’s institutional role. CRS Reports, as a work of the United States Government, are not
subject to copyright protection in the United States. Any CRS Report may be reproduced and distributed in
its entirety without permission from CRS. However, as a CRS Report may include copyrighted images or
material from a third party, you may need to obtain the permission of the copyright holder if you wish to
copy or otherwise use copyrighted material.

Congressional Research Service
R46688 · VERSION 9 · UPDATED
16