Anne Arundel County – Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)

UTMOST IMPORTANCE NOTICE

APPLICATIONS WILL ONLY BE ACCEPTED FROM TENANTS WHO ARE ABOUT TO BE EVICTED.

With the exception of exceptional conditions that place the household in danger of eviction, the ACDS Eviction Prevention Program no longer provides help to tenants who have already received aid. This decision was made to guarantee that the limited emergency rental assistance monies available in Anne Arundel County be used to assist tenants who are most at risk of eviction.

Tenants who are being evicted or are about to be evicted because they have not paid their rent can contact ACDS through email at evictionprevention@acsinc.org to check whether they are qualified for an exception. Attached to the email should include the following documentation and material:

• Include the tenant’s complete name in the subject line of the email. If an eviction is scheduled for a specific time, include that date in the subject line.
• In your application, include the following information about the tenant:
  • Name
  • Address
  • The phone number to dial
  • Address of the email’s sender (if it was not sent from the tenant’s own email address).
  • In your submission, please provide at least one of the following papers:
    • Notice of Eviction’s Effective Date
    • Warrant to Possess Property and Warrant to Restore Property
    • The Judgment for Non-Payment of Rent
    • Warning Letter and Formal Complaint Regarding Overdue Rent Payments (the yellow sheet)
    • Within the Next Ten Days, a Notice of Intention to File Will Be Submitted

We understand that requests for aid during an approaching eviction are time-sensitive, thus we respond to all emails as soon as possible. Workers from the Eviction Prevention Program will respond to every correspondence within their authority within two full working days (excluding weekends). Typically, the time necessary to answer will be less.

Even if a tenant meets the exception criteria, emergency rental assistance is based on the renter’s eligibility for the Eviction Prevention Program. This is an extremely crucial point to remember. The supply of assistance is subject to sufficient financing, restrictions on the maximum number of months of support permitted by the funding source(s), and the presence of any other payment constraints imposed by the program.

It is not guaranteed that funding will be available for the payment of past-due rent; accordingly, all applicants are strongly advised to pay their rent as soon as possible and to seek other resources while their application is being assessed.

FOR INFORMATION ON ASSISTANCE WITH LATE UTILITY BILLS, PLEASE CLICK ON THIS LINK: https://dhs.maryland.gov/office-of-home-energy-programs/how-do-you-apply/.

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY’S EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS AND THEIR FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES

Tenants who qualify for the Eviction Prevention Program (EPP) and whose household income has been impacted by the COVID-19 public health crisis are eligible to receive short-term rental assistance from the program. There is no provision for long-term rental assistance within the Eviction Prevention Program. Every type of assistance is subject to the eligibility of the household and the amount of money that is available.

NOTE TO Renters AND LANDLORDS: ACDS does not pay rental arrears for tenants who have been evicted or who have moved out of the property they previously rented. If a tenant was evicted or forced to relocate as a result of financial issues brought on by the COVID-19 issue, the tenant may be eligible for assistance with relocation costs.

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN TENANTS AND LANDLORDS: If there is a valid written lease between the parties that predates the application for assistance; if there is a documented history of rental payments made by the tenant corresponding with documented receipt of payments received by the landlord (bank statements are required from both landlord and tenant); and if there is a documented history of rental payments made by the tenant corresponding with documented receipt of payments received by the landlord (bank statements are required from both landlord and tenant); then tenants whose landlord is a family member of any person in the tenant’s Depending on the specifics of the situation, more papers can be required.

THE MAXIMUM ASSISTANCE PER HOUSEHOLD IS EQUAL TO 12 MONTHS’ RENT: To assist as many households as possible, the maximum amount of rental assistance that can be offered to any one household is equivalent to a total of twelve (12) months’ rent. This maximum sum includes any future rent payments made on behalf of the household. Additional months of assistance may be allowed in extreme cases to prevent homelessness, although this is subject to cash availability and any regulatory maximums on the amount of aid that can be provided.

HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVING ARREARS PAYMENTS DO NOT AUTOMATICALLY QUALIFY FOR PROSPECTIVE RENT. Prospective rent is not automatically available to households. Prospective rent is only available to households earning at or below 50% of the area median income, and in most situations, prospective renters can only cover a maximum of two (2) months’ rent.

ASSISTANCE LIMITS FOR LEASES BEGINNING JULY 1, 2021 OR LATER: If a renter’s lease begins on or after July 1, 2021, and the rent charged is greater than the Small Area Fair Market Rent for the zip code in which the property is located, the renter’s eligibility for rental assistance will be limited to the payment of arrears for a maximum of three months. If the tenant’s arrears exceed three months’ worth of payments, the renter must pay off the extra amount owed in order to be eligible for emergency rental assistance. Small Area Fair Market Rent can be found on the HUD website by entering a zip code: https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/fmr/fmrs/FY2022_code/2022summary_sa.odn Small Area Fair Market Rent is updated on a yearly basis.

Tenants who have previously applied for assistance: please be patient while you await an answer. We understand that this is a terrible time for everyone, and we are doing everything we can to get back to you as soon as possible.

Do you have a court date for rent that is past due or a notice that you are going to be evicted? There is help available if you need it!

• In the event that you get a sheriff’s notice containing an eviction date, you should contact ACDS at (410-222-3999) and Community Legal Services at (240) 391-6370 extension 5 as soon as possible. You can also submit an intake form electronically by going to https://www.legal-trak.com/CaseManagement/OnlineIntake/OnlineIntake/3?skipPayment=true on our website.
• If you have already submitted an application for rental assistance, check to see that you have sent in all of the necessary supporting documents so that your request can be processed as quickly and efficiently as possible.
• If you have received a yellow court notice that is labeled “Landlord’s Complaint for Failure to Pay Rent,” then you should contact Community Legal Services. In order to assist you in navigating the legal system, CLS is able to provide you with legal advice and/or counsel.

There is free legal assistance available for tenants facing eviction:

Community Legal Services provides FREE LEGAL ADVICE and representation to tenants who have been sued for eviction owing to rent difficulties. You can find information about who is eligible to apply and how to apply here: Legal advice is provided at no cost. CLS Info in Spanish for legal assistance.

For HACA residents who are at risk of eviction, information is available in both English and Spanish.

The operation of the initiative to stop evictions

Eligible Applicants

Rental households must provide evidence that they are:

1. Anne Arundel County residents
2. At least one member of the family qualified for Unemployment Insurance benefits after March 16, 2020, or experienced a drop in income, incurred considerable costs, or faced severe financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 epidemic, either directly or indirectly. Additionally, at least one member of the family faced severe financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 epidemic.
3. Below eighty percent of the AMI, as shown HERE
4. Suffer from a lack of financial resources, including income, savings, and assets, that are adequate to cover housing costs.
5. If one or more members of the household provide notices of past-due utility or rent payments, eviction notices, unsafe or unhealthy living circumstances, or other evidence that indicates a risk of homelessness or housing instability, this may be taken as an indication that the household is at risk of becoming homeless or experiencing housing instability.
6. Currently in possession of a unit lease or sublease.

Housing Choice Vouchers, Subsidized Housing, and Public Housing Residents

Residents who live in subsidized housing, public housing, or who receive a Housing Choice Voucher or another rental subsidy from the Housing Commission of Anne Arundel County (HCAAC) or the Housing Authority of the City of Annapolis (HACA) should contact their management office or HCAAC/HACA agency staff to have their rent payments recalculated based on their current income.

Instructions on How to Apply

Pick one of the options that are presented further down.

1. You will be asked to supply information about your household, including its income and how the COVID-19 scenario impacted it. Please provide all of the required documentation as soon as it is available. It is imperative that you do not give up on your application even if you are missing an essential document. There is a possibility that your Case Manager will be able to help you acquire the document, or alternative documentation might be acceptable in its place.
2. Call the number 410-222-7600, press “2,” and leave a message with your name, phone number, and email address if you require assistance in completing the application or a reasonable accommodation to complete it.

Documentation Requirements

Candidates must submit supporting documentation, which may include, but is not limited to, the following items:

1. A document that proves the income of the household, such as a W-2, pay stubs, tax returns, and/or bank records
2. Eviction notice A correspondence from the landlord indicating that the tenant is delinquent on rent and the amount owed
3. Unpaid utility bills or notices that the utility may be turned off
4. A rental or lease agreement, as well as a sublease arrangement (at minimum front page and signature page)
5. All adults residing in the household must provide identification with a photo.
6. Evidence of a loss in employment or earnings as a result of COVID-19

Following receipt of the required documentation, the Case Manager will perform a review to determine eligibility. It should be noted that payments will be made directly to the landlord or utility company. Thank you for your assistance.

Income Limits

After adjustment for family size, the applicants’ yearly household income must be at or below 80% of the area median income (AMI), as assessed by HUD and stated below. (total household income in 2020, or the total monthly household income multiplied by 12)

Angela Silva

Angela Silva, a dedicated 42-year-old consultant specializing in government housing and rental assistance, hails from Sydney, Australia. She completed her education with a degree in Urban Planning from the University of New South Wales. Angela’s career has been marked by her relentless advocacy for affordable housing solutions, where she has worked extensively with both local governments and international agencies in Asia-Pacific regions. Her initiatives have led to the development of sustainable housing projects that cater to low-income families. Outside of her professional environment, Angela enjoys a peaceful life with her partner and their two adopted dogs, engaging in community gardening and urban sustainability projects.