What we verified in “Emergency rental assistance: how it works and what to bring”

Statements and where we checked them

The statements with rules, figures or dates, with the exact place in the source and the date we checked them.

1. According to the Treasury Department, the period of performance for the second round of Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA2) has ended, and grantees may no longer use those funds to assist renters; Treasury points renters and landlords to the housing portal hosted by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

   Sources 1 · Emergency Rental Assistance Program, Looking for rental assistance?: 'The period of performance for ERA2 awards has ended. ERA2 grantees may no longer use ERA2 award funds to assist renters'; 'explore other rental assistance resources on the interagency housing portal hosted by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)' · Checked November 6, 2026

2. According to the CFPB, state, tribal and local organizations distribute money to help renters with rent and other bills, and they are the best place to start: search online for rental assistance in your city, county and state, ask at local government offices and at places like your library.

   Sources 2 · Get help paying rent and bills: 'State, tribal, and local organizations distribute money to help renters struggling to keep up with rent and other bills'; 'are the best place to start'; 'Search the Internet for rental assistance in your town or city, your county, and your state'; 'Ask at local government offices'; 'Visit organizations like your local library' · Checked November 6, 2026

3. According to the CFPB, 211 can help you find options to pay rent or utility bills: call 211 from a cell phone or landline to talk to a local specialist.

   Sources 2 · Get help paying rent and bills, Contact 211: '211 can help you identify available resources'; 'Call 211 from a cell phone or landline to speak to a local specialist today' · Checked November 6, 2026

4. According to the CFPB, after you apply it may take several weeks to receive rental assistance funds.

   Sources 2 · Get help paying rent and bills, Tip about timing: 'After applying it may take several weeks to receive rental assistance funds' · Checked November 6, 2026

5. According to the CFPB, for year-round help with utility bills you can contact your local Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) office or call the National Energy Assistance Referral Hotline at (866)-674-6327.

   Sources 2 · Get help paying rent and bills, Help with utility bills: 'Get year-round help with utility bills by contacting your local Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) office or calling the National Energy Assistance Referral Hotline at (866)-674-6327' · Checked November 6, 2026

6. According to the CFPB, some HUD-approved housing counseling agencies offer low- or no-cost rental counseling; not all do, so check that 'rental' is on their list of services; and you can call 800-569-4287 to find one.

   Sources 2 · Get help paying rent and bills, Rental housing counseling: 'Some HUD-approved housing counseling agencies offer low- or no-cost rental housing counseling'; 'make sure that "rental" appears on the list'; 'call 800-569-4287' · Checked November 6, 2026

7. According to the CFPB, if your landlord is threatening to evict you or you need help understanding your rights, talk to a lawyer; you may qualify for free legal aid based on your income.

   Sources 2 · Get help paying rent and bills, Legal help with evictions: 'If your landlord is threatening to evict you, or you need help understanding your rights, talk to a lawyer. You may qualify for free legal aid, based on your income' · Checked November 6, 2026

8. According to the CFPB, if your landlord's lawyer or a collection agency tries to collect back rent or utilities, it may be considered a debt collector under federal law, which bans unfair or deceptive practices; you can submit a complaint or call (855) 411-2372.

   Sources 2 · Get help paying rent and bills: 'the lawyer or company may be considered a debt collector under federal law'; 'debt collectors can't use unfair or deceptive practices to try and collect a debt'; 'you can submit a complaint or call (855) 411-2372' · Checked November 6, 2026

9. According to the CFPB, negative rental information, like records of eviction filings or rent in collections on your report, can have a huge impact on your ability to rent, because many landlords use a tenant screening report to decide whether to rent to you and how much deposit to charge.

   Sources 2 · Get help paying rent and bills: 'Negative rental information, like records of eviction filings or rental payments in debt collection'; 'Many landlords use a tenant screening report to help them decide whether to rent to you, and how much to charge you for a security deposit' · Checked November 6, 2026

10. According to the Illinois program's page, the Court-Based Rental Assistance Program (CBRAP) is for tenants with an eviction case for nonpayment; it can give up to $10,000 for past-due rent, up to $700 for court costs and up to two months of future rent; proof of citizenship is not required; household income must be at or below 80 percent of area median; and it asks for a photo ID, proof of address, proof of income, evidence of past-due rent and the complaint, summons and case number.

    Sources 3 · Illinois Court-Based Rental Assistance Program: 'up to $10,000 that can be applied to past due rent, up to $700 for court costs, and up to two months' future rent'; 'You are in a court eviction proceeding due to nonpayment'; 'Proof of citizenship is not required'; 'at or below 80% of the area median income'; 'Government-issued photo ID'; 'Proof of household income'; 'Evidence of past-due rent'; 'Eviction court complaint, summons, and court-case number' · Checked November 6, 2026

11. According to the Illinois program's page, the tenant should apply first; if eligible, the landlord is sent an email inviting it to complete its section of the application.

    Sources 3 · Illinois Court-Based Rental Assistance Program: 'A tenant should apply first'; 'If eligible, their landlord will be sent an email inviting them to complete their section of the application' · Checked November 6, 2026

12. According to Denver's page, its Temporary Rental and Utility Assistance (TRUA) only takes applications from households with a current demand for rent from the landlord, a court summons or another document of an active eviction case, and an email from the landlord asking for payment does not count; it opens once a month and selects at random among applications.

    Sources 4 · Rent and Utility Help, TRUA: 'Households may only apply for TRUA assistance if they have a current Demand for Rent (Demand Notice) from their landlord, a Court Summons'; 'An email request for payment from the landlord is NOT considered an acceptable form of demand notice'; 'Applications will be accepted beginning on the third Tuesday of each month'; 'there will be a random selection' · Checked November 6, 2026

13. According to New York City's page, Emergency Assistance (the One Shot Deal) can help if you will lose your housing without help; you may be required to pay back some or all of it; eligibility is decided case by case, considering income, household size, the reason for the need, savings, whether the housing is affordable, a plan to pay going forward and citizenship or immigration status; and it may ask for a birth certificate or Social Security number, proof of income, the landlord's letters about rent owed, court orders and the lease.

    Sources 5 · One Shot Deal: 'you are experiencing homelessness or will lose your housing if you do not get help'; 'You may be required to pay back some or all the Emergency Assistance'; 'Eligibility is determined on a case-by-case basis'; 'a future plan to pay the expense moving forward'; 'citizenship or immigration status'; 'Bills or letters from the landlord for monthly rent, and rent owed'; 'Copies of court orders'; 'Lease' · Checked November 6, 2026

14. According to Maricopa County's page, its help with a rental deposit or monthly rent requires a crisis event that can be documented and being past due on rent; it asks for a photo ID, proof of household income for the 30 days before applying and documentation of the crisis; and it warns that funding may require verification of U.S. citizenship or qualified noncitizen status.

    Sources 6 · Rental Assistance: 'Crisis event can be supported with documentation'; 'Must be past due on rent'; 'Photo identification of applicant'; 'Documentation of household income received in the 30 days prior to application submission date'; 'Documentation demonstrating crisis event'; 'Funding may require verification of U.S. Citizenship or Qualified Noncitizen Status' · Checked November 6, 2026

15. According to the Minnesota Department of Revenue, the Renter's Credit is a refundable credit claimed on the state income tax return, for people with a valid Social Security number or ITIN who rented in a Minnesota building that pays property tax and whose household income is below $77,570.

    Sources 7 · Renter's Credit: 'The Renter's Credit is a refundable credit on an income tax return'; 'You have a valid Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number'; 'paid rent on a Minnesota building where the owner was assessed property tax'; 'Your household income is below $77,570' · Checked November 6, 2026