Rental Assistance
The District has temporarily frozen rent increases and evictions, and recent legislation requires all residential landlords to offer alternative rent payment plans to tenants who can demonstrate they’re experiencing income loss due to COVID-19. The State of Emergency ends on October 9, and landlords cannot start the process of evictions or make changes to the rent until December. For low-income residents facing immediate financial hardship, the city also offers a limited amount of direct financial assistance through the following programs:
Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)
Applicants must have incomes below 125% of the monthly federal poverty level, which is $2,729 for a household of four or $1,796 for a two-person household. Residents can apply through several organizations listed here.
Tenant-Based Rental Assistance Program
Administered by D.C.’s Department of Housing and Community Development, this is a new pot of money available to tenants in D.C.’s affordable housing communities. The amount of assistance depends on the renter’s income and the number of bedrooms in their unit. Residents must apply for funding through Housing Counseling Services or the Latino Economic Development Center.
COVID-19 Tenant Based Rental Assistance – for renters in buildings of 50 units or less
The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) has developed a $1.5 million program funded by federal HOME dollars to offer tenant-based rental assistance to low-income renters. Rental assistance will allow district residents in buildings of 50 units or less to remain current with monthly rent payments and can be used retroactively to pay April and May rent. The fund is estimated to assist 400 households for a minimum of six months and up to two years based on financial need and available funds. Click here to read more about this program.
Financial assistance will be based on income and unit size. District residents must earn 60% of the Median Family Income (MFI) or below based on the COVID-19 Income & Rent Schedule. Residents will also have to demonstrate they are delinquent on rent or are unable to pay rent because they have lost employment due to COVID-19.
Housing Counseling Services and Latino Economic Development Center are administering the application intake process, conducting the income certification process for applicants, and completing payment disbursement. You may contact either organization to express interest in applying to the program and ask questions and they will conduct intake accordingly.
COVID-19 Housing Assistance Program (CHAP)
The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) has developed the COVID-19 Housing Assistance Program (CHAP), a $6.2 million program funded by the federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) offering rental assistance to low-income renters who are in arrears.
Financial assistance will be based on income and household size as tenants must earn 80% of the Median Family Income (MFI) or below to qualify, based on the CHAP Income Schedule. District residents will have to demonstrate that they are delinquent on rent or are unable to pay rent due because they have lost employment due to COVID-19. Assistance can be applied for rent from April 2020 onward for up to three months of overdue rent depending on available funds. Click here to apply and read more about this program.
Interested applicants are asked to fill out intake information by going to the central intake portal for emergency rental assistance found here. Applicants will then be routed to one of the following three community based organizations (CBO) -the Greater Washington Urban League, Housing Counseling Services and United Planning Organization.
Each CBO will take applications, certify income and make payments to approved applicants by appointment only. Please contact any organization with questions on the program and application process.
Fannie Mae Renters Resource Finder
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Mortgage and Housing Assistance
202 Assist
Residents of Ward 8 may apply for 202 Assist through the John Wall Family Foundation with Lydia’s House. Click here to apply.
Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)
Applicants must have incomes below 125% of the monthly federal poverty level, which is $2,729 for a household of four or $1,796 for a two-person household. Residents can apply through several organizations listed here.
Tenant-Based Rental Assistance Program
Administered by D.C.’s Department of Housing and Community Development, this is a new pot of money available to tenants in D.C.’s affordable housing communities. The amount of assistance depends on the renter’s income and the number of bedrooms in their unit. Residents must apply for funding through Housing Counseling Services or the Latino Economic Development Center.
COVID-19 Tenant Based Rental Assistance – for renters in buildings of 50 units or less
The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) has developed a $1.5 million program funded by federal HOME dollars to offer tenant-based rental assistance to low-income renters. Rental assistance will allow district residents in buildings of 50 units or less to remain current with monthly rent payments and can be used retroactively to pay April and May rent. The fund is estimated to assist 400 households for a minimum of six months and up to two years based on financial need and available funds. Click here to read more about this program.
Financial assistance will be based on income and unit size. District residents must earn 60% of the Median Family Income (MFI) or below based on the COVID-19 Income & Rent Schedule. Residents will also have to demonstrate they are delinquent on rent or are unable to pay rent because they have lost employment due to COVID-19.
Housing Counseling Services and Latino Economic Development Center are administering the application intake process, conducting the income certification process for applicants, and completing payment disbursement. You may contact either organization to express interest in applying to the program and ask questions and they will conduct intake accordingly.
- Housing Counseling Services – (202) 667-7713
- Latino Economic Development Center – (202) 588-5102
COVID-19 Housing Assistance Program (CHAP)
The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) has developed the COVID-19 Housing Assistance Program (CHAP), a $6.2 million program funded by the federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) offering rental assistance to low-income renters who are in arrears.
Financial assistance will be based on income and household size as tenants must earn 80% of the Median Family Income (MFI) or below to qualify, based on the CHAP Income Schedule. District residents will have to demonstrate that they are delinquent on rent or are unable to pay rent due because they have lost employment due to COVID-19. Assistance can be applied for rent from April 2020 onward for up to three months of overdue rent depending on available funds. Click here to apply and read more about this program.
Interested applicants are asked to fill out intake information by going to the central intake portal for emergency rental assistance found here. Applicants will then be routed to one of the following three community based organizations (CBO) -the Greater Washington Urban League, Housing Counseling Services and United Planning Organization.
Each CBO will take applications, certify income and make payments to approved applicants by appointment only. Please contact any organization with questions on the program and application process.
- Greater Washington Urban League – 202-524-8175 or by email at [email protected].
- Housing Counseling Services – (202) 667-7713
- United Planning Organization – (202) 231-7910 or (202) 231-7922
Fannie Mae Renters Resource Finder
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Mortgage and Housing Assistance
202 Assist
Residents of Ward 8 may apply for 202 Assist through the John Wall Family Foundation with Lydia’s House. Click here to apply.
Tips for Paying Bills
Information about paying bills from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB):
As you plan for the potential impact of the Coronavirus, there are a number of steps that you can take to help protect yourself or a loved one financially, both in the short and long term.
1. Contact lenders to let them know about your situation. Financial Institutions are being encouraged to work with customers to meet their needs. This includes credit card companies, mortgage lenders, student loans and auto payments
When contacting your lenders, be prepared to explain:
2. Work with housing and credit counselors to understand your options
3. Contact reputable credit counseling organizations. There are specific questions to ask to help you find a credit counseling organization to work with.
4. Contact debt collectors to identify a realistic repayment plan. The Bureau offers a number of resources for contacting and negotiating with debt collection companies.
5. You can look to your state’s unemployment policies to identify current options for benefits. Your state's public health office may also have information.
6. Be aware of potential scam attempts
As you plan for the potential impact of the Coronavirus, there are a number of steps that you can take to help protect yourself or a loved one financially, both in the short and long term.
1. Contact lenders to let them know about your situation. Financial Institutions are being encouraged to work with customers to meet their needs. This includes credit card companies, mortgage lenders, student loans and auto payments
When contacting your lenders, be prepared to explain:
- Your situation
- How much you can afford to pay
- When you’re likely to be able to restart regular payments
- Your income, expenses and assets
- Why you need a delayed or reduced payment program
2. Work with housing and credit counselors to understand your options
- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)-approved housing counselors can discuss options with you if you’re having trouble paying your mortgage loan or reverse mortgage loan. This may also include forbearance or a modified payment program.
3. Contact reputable credit counseling organizations. There are specific questions to ask to help you find a credit counseling organization to work with.
4. Contact debt collectors to identify a realistic repayment plan. The Bureau offers a number of resources for contacting and negotiating with debt collection companies.
5. You can look to your state’s unemployment policies to identify current options for benefits. Your state's public health office may also have information.
6. Be aware of potential scam attempts
- Click here for more information from CFPB on paying your bills and managing finances during the pandemic.
- Click here to learn what you need to know about student loans during the pandemic.
- Here’s Everything You Need to Know About Paying Your Rent or Mortgage During the Coronavirus Pandemic - WAMU
- How to Negotiate Bills During the COVID-19 Pandemic - Negotiation Works
Capital Area Asset Builders (CAAB)
Emergency Savings Plus
CAAB with the support of Capital One Bank, launches EmergencySavingsPlus to assist low- to moderate-income residents of Wards 7 and 8 in Washington, DC to begin the process to save for financial emergencies and receive money to set-up an emergency savings account with $450
Participation requirements: You have to be a resident or either Ward 7 or in Washington, DC, and your family's total income must not exceed $121,300.
For more information click here.
DC Family Financial Recovery Fund
Capital Area Asset Builders (CAAB) has launched an innovative non-conditional cash transfer and financial wellness initiative--DC Family Financial Recovery Fund--to provide liquidity to DC low- and moderate-income families, regardless of immigration status, who have recently experienced unemployment and/or have had significant reduction in employment hours and mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on their financial health. This initiative is supported by a grant from the Greater Washington Community Foundation.
Through the first phase of the DC Family Financial Recovery Fund, CAAB will provide a one-time non-conditional $500 cash transfer to 75 low-income DC residents who have recently experienced unemployment and/or have had significant reduction in employment hours due to COVID-19. Additionally, CAAB will provide Fund beneficiaries with access to virtual financial education classes, virtual one-on-one credit counseling & financial coaching services, information on claiming and maximizing the Earned Income Tax Credit, access to free tax preparation services, and, information on asset building financial services and products.
"CAAB is very excited to launch the DC Family Financial Recovery Fund which is an innovative non-conditional cash transfer and financial wellness initiative for the benefit of low- and moderate-income residents of Washington, DC," said Joseph Leitmann-Santa Cruz, CAAB's Executive Director. "Through the DC Family Financial Recovery Fund, CAAB looks forward to financially empower low-income residents of Washington, DC-regardless of their immigration status-in order to mitigate the impact COVID-19 has had in their financial health and provide them with an opportunity to achieve financial stability."
To learn more about the DC Family Financial Recovery Fund and to apply, please visit https://www.caab.org/en/caab-launches-the-dc-family-financial-recovery-fund-an-innovative-non-conditional-cash-transfer-and-financial-wellness-initiative
CAAB with the support of Capital One Bank, launches EmergencySavingsPlus to assist low- to moderate-income residents of Wards 7 and 8 in Washington, DC to begin the process to save for financial emergencies and receive money to set-up an emergency savings account with $450
Participation requirements: You have to be a resident or either Ward 7 or in Washington, DC, and your family's total income must not exceed $121,300.
For more information click here.
DC Family Financial Recovery Fund
Capital Area Asset Builders (CAAB) has launched an innovative non-conditional cash transfer and financial wellness initiative--DC Family Financial Recovery Fund--to provide liquidity to DC low- and moderate-income families, regardless of immigration status, who have recently experienced unemployment and/or have had significant reduction in employment hours and mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on their financial health. This initiative is supported by a grant from the Greater Washington Community Foundation.
Through the first phase of the DC Family Financial Recovery Fund, CAAB will provide a one-time non-conditional $500 cash transfer to 75 low-income DC residents who have recently experienced unemployment and/or have had significant reduction in employment hours due to COVID-19. Additionally, CAAB will provide Fund beneficiaries with access to virtual financial education classes, virtual one-on-one credit counseling & financial coaching services, information on claiming and maximizing the Earned Income Tax Credit, access to free tax preparation services, and, information on asset building financial services and products.
"CAAB is very excited to launch the DC Family Financial Recovery Fund which is an innovative non-conditional cash transfer and financial wellness initiative for the benefit of low- and moderate-income residents of Washington, DC," said Joseph Leitmann-Santa Cruz, CAAB's Executive Director. "Through the DC Family Financial Recovery Fund, CAAB looks forward to financially empower low-income residents of Washington, DC-regardless of their immigration status-in order to mitigate the impact COVID-19 has had in their financial health and provide them with an opportunity to achieve financial stability."
To learn more about the DC Family Financial Recovery Fund and to apply, please visit https://www.caab.org/en/caab-launches-the-dc-family-financial-recovery-fund-an-innovative-non-conditional-cash-transfer-and-financial-wellness-initiative