The COVID-19 outbreak has reduced incomes for many Washingtonians, leaving them unable to pay their rent.

UPDATE: Applications for the ERAP program has now closed. We currently have a waitlist for new rental assistance applications. If you would like to be put on this waitlist, please reach out. We are unable to guarantee that you will receive assistance, but when funding is available we will reach out to you to let you know.

The Eviction Rent Assistance Program (ERAP) is funded with federal CARES Act dollars and is intended to prevent evictions by paying past due, current due, and future rent, targeting limited resources to those with the greatest needs while working to distribute funds equitably. Households must meet the two primary eligibility criteria plus one of the additional criteria points to receive assistance from this program. Funds will be available through December 31, 2020.

Eligibility Criteria

• Current income (over last 60 days) at or below 50% of Area Median Income.
  AND
• At least one month of rent not paid or partially unpaid since March 1, 2020.

Additional Criteria

• Rent burdened: 50% or more of current monthly income is needed to pay rent.
• Previously homeless within last five years. This includes experiences of couch surfing/double up.
• Eviction history within last seven years.
• Housing disrupted due to household member race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, or religion.
• At risk of severe illness as per CDC (62 or older, underlying condition).
• Disability of any household member. Includes a physical, developmental, mental, or emotional impairment, including impairment caused by alcohol or drug abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder, or brain injury. A person with HIV/AIDS is considered disabled for the purposes of this program.

Rent Assistance

Funds from the ERAP program can pay up to three months of rent payments in any combination of rental arrears, current rent or future rent through December 2020. Payments can only be up to 80% of total rent due (arrears, current, future) OR the Fair Market Rent rate.

Snohomish County 2020 FMR Rates

For More Details, Please Reach out to the Helping Hands Project Organization

Phone: (425) 760-8306

Address: 2808 Hoyt Ave, WA 98201

Email: admin@helpinghands-project.org

Provider Resources:

ERAP Household Information and Eligibility Form: English, Spanish, Russian, Korean, Vietnamese, Simplified Chinese, Tagalog

ERAP Friend Family Payment Agreement Form: English, Spanish, Russian, Korean, Vietnamese, Simplified Chinese, Tagalog

ERAP Landlord Payment Agreement Form: English, Spanish, Russian, Korean, Vietnamese, Simplified Chinese, Tagalog

Additional ERAP Resources from WA Commerce