Emergency Rental Assistance Program in Placer County

Apply Now to Avoid Eviction

The Rent Help Placer Application Window Has Closed – CA COVID-19 Rent Relief Still Available

April 30, 2021, was the last day to initiate an application for the Rent Help Placer program. If you started the Rent Help Placer process before May 1, 2021, and have been pre-qualified, you can still gather and submit your paperwork to participate in the program.

Starting May 1, 2021, residents who need assistance and are not already participating in Rent Help Placer can check their qualifications and apply for rent and utility help through the CA COVID-19 Rent Relief program.

Looking for more resources and services such as food assistance, employment, housing, and more? Call 2-1-1 to get connected to a wide range of programs and service providers in Placer County. Or, click here for a list of Placer County Health & Human Services programs.

Update: More Funding Available To Residents Already Receiving Rent & Utility Support

Starting in June 2021, currently enrolled Rent Help Placer program recipients may be eligible to re-apply for additional rent and utility help. Participants who are nearing the end of their three-month benefit period will be invited to verify that they still meet eligibility requirements. Those who qualify will be able to re-apply for a second round of payments for past due or future rent and utility bills. No action is needed to initiate the re-application process. Program recipients will be contacted directly by an application processor.

Looking For More Resources?

Resources and services such as food assistance, employment, and housing are available in Placer County and more. Call 2-1-1 to get connected to a wide range of programs and service providers or, click here for a list of Placer County Health & Human Services programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Placer County’s Emergency Rental Assistance program?

The Placer County Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) provides financial assistance to eligible low-income renters in Placer County to pay for past-due or current rent and utility payments. Applicants must show a loss in income or other related financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic to qualify.

Who is eligible?

The program is for low-income renters, with payments provided directly to landlords. To be eligible for assistance, your household must have an income at or below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) and be able to prove one of the following due to COVID-19:

• Have lost income or qualify for unemployment benefits
• Incurred significant costs, or experienced financial hardship
• Are at risk of housing instability or eviction

*Income-eligible applicants who have been unemployed for 90 or more days or who are below 50% of the Placer County AMI will be given priority.

How do I know if I meet the Income eligibility criteria?

A household is defined as any individual living in one dwelling. Occupants can consist of a single family, two or more families who live together, or any group of related or unrelated individuals who share a common housing unit. Income for all household members 18 years old or older will be considered when calculating annual household income.

What forms of income will be considered for eligibility?

The program will consider the following forms of income when determining eligibility:

• Gross earnings from wages, salaries, and overtime pay, including earnings for those in the Armed Forces
• Interest, dividends, and other net income from real or personal property
• Social security, insurance, retirement/pension, disability, or death benefit payments (full amount of periodic payments)
• Unemployment, disability compensation, worker’s compensation, or severance payments
• CalWORKs, TANF, GR, Medi-Cal, or Covered California payments
• Alimony, Child Support, regular contributions or gifts received from organizations or people outside of the residence
• If you are self-employed: the net income from the operation of a business or profession

When I apply, what other paperwork will I need?
 
Once you have determined that you are eligible, be sure to have the following ready before you apply:
 
Proof you live in Placer County

• A rental agreement that shows your address, rent amount, and signatures from you and your landlord

Proof you are at risk of housing instability or eviction

• A past due rent utility bill, or eviction notice

Proof you lost income due to COVID-19 (ONE of the following)

• Termination letter from your job
• Most recent pay stub with employer information
• Copy of unemployment application or proof of current or expired benefits, including Federal unemployment benefits
• If you are self-employed: tax records, income statements, or other proof you have lost income

Proof you are income-eligible

*Household income is based on either the household’s total income for the calendar year 2020 or the household’s monthly income at the time of application. The program will consider any of the following proof of income paperwork:

• 1040 form from the 2020 tax return

or ONE of the following:

• The last two pay stubs
• W-2 or other wage statement
• Proof of Social Security, retirement/pension, disability, or death benefit payments
• Bank statements showing regular deposits of income
• Unemployment, disability compensation, worker’s compensation, and severance pay
• Proof of payments from CalWORKs, TANF, GR, Medi-Cal, or Covered California
• Alimony, Child Support, regular contributions or gifts received from organizations or people outside of the residence
• A sworn statement from your employer
• For self-employed: tax records, income statements, or other proof showing loss of income

If you are applying for utility assistance only

• Past due or current utility bills, may include natural gas and propane, electricity, garbage, water, and sewer bills

Landlords Apply Here


Tenants Apply Here

Patrick K