GOV
Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERA 3)
The City of St. Louis Emergency Rental Assistance Program is providing $3.3 million to help residents struggling with past-due rent resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Applications open December 3, 2024.
Overview
The City of St. Louis Emergency Rental Assistance Program is providing $3.3 million to help residents struggling with past-due rent resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The program will provide a one-time payment to an applicant's verified landlord to cover past-due rent charges. This payment is to help prevent evictions for those experiencing financial hardship.
This funding comes from the CARES Act through the CDBG-CV Rental Assistance Program. Applications open December 3, 2024.
Eligibility Criteria
Financial Hardship
One or more individuals within the household has qualified for unemployment benefits or experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs, or experienced other financial hardship during or due, directly or indirectly, to the coronavirus pandemic. Additional examples of financial hardship include;
- Job loss or reduced income
- Increased medical expenses
- Housing instability or eviction threat
- Difficulty paying for basic needs (food, utilities)
- Mental health challenges (stress, anxiety)
- Educational disruptions (school closures, remote learning)
- Increased caregiving responsibilities (for children or elderly family members)
- Lack of access to healthcare or delayed medical care
- Risk of housing instability
- Past due rent notice or eviction notice
Housing Instability
Housing instability may affect one or more members of your household.
Household Income Limit
Funds go to households with an AMI (Area Median Income) under 80%, with a priority for households with an AMI under 50%.
| AMI | 1 person | 2 person | 3 person | 4 person | 5 person | 6 person | 7 person | 8 person |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30% | $21,700 | $24,800 | $27,900 | $30,950 | $33,450 | $35,950 | $38,400 | $40,900 |
| 50% | $36,150 | $41,300 | $46,450 | $51,600 | $55,750 | $59,900 | $64,000 | $68,150 |
| 60% | $43,380 | $49,560 | $55,740 | $61,920 | $66,900 | $71,880 | $76,800 | $81,780 |
| 80% | $57,800 | $66,050 | $74,300 | $82,550 | $89,200 | $95,800 | $102,400 | $109,000 |
Legal Adulthood
You must be 18 years or older or emancipated 15-17 years old (with documentation).
City Residency
You must have a physical address within the city limits of St. Louis. Verify your City address.
Landlord Participation
Landlords must participate, as the rental payments are made directly to a verified landlord. In the event that your landlord does not wish to participate, you will not be eligible for the program.
See the application site for landlord participation information.
Required Documents
The following documents will be used to verify eligibility:
Proof of Identity
You can use a government-issued identification as proof of identity including:
- Drivers license
- State ID card
- Passport
- Voter ID card
- Military ID
- Permanent resident card
- Work permit or employment authorization card
- National ID card
- Court order or judgment of emancipation
Household Income
Documents that show your regular income.
- Most recent tax returns (Form 1040 filed with IRS)
- Unemployment Compensation Statement
- Pay stubs
All consecutive pay stubs from your employer for the past two months. - Interest statement
- Social Security Benefits Statement
Proof of income from Social Security benefits (Social Security Award Letter, Form SSA-1099 from 2023 or 2024). - Disability Income Statement
Any disability benefits received from December 2023 or 2024) - Pension/Retirement Income
Documents showing income from pensions or retirement accounts. (dated within the past 12 months or the most recent) - Unemployment Benefits Statement
Consecutive payment history for the last two months. - Child Support/Alimony/Foster Care Payments
Court documents or statements showing regular payments. Consecutive payment history for the last two months. - Rental Income Statements
Proof of income from rental properties. (Consecutive payment history for the last two months, 2023 or 2024 Schedule E Tax Form) - Investment Income
Statements showing dividends, interest, or capital gains from investments. Consecutive payment history for the last two months. - Self-Employment Income
Profit and loss statements or business tax returns. (Consecutive payment history for the last two months) - Government/State Benefits Letter
Food Assistance or Cash Assistance grants (TANF, GA, most recent award letter)
If documentation is unavailable, a written declaration confirming specific information about the reduction in income may be used. (A FORWARD Outreach Specialist will contact you if this statement is needed.)
Proof of Rent
Lease or rental agreement between you, the tenant and the landlord. Lease normally include the following details;
- Name of household members
- Name of landlord
- Address of rental property
- Term of agreement
- Rent rate and date due
- Deposits (if any and what for/term)
- Signature of household/date
- Signature of landlord/date
Proof of Past Due Rent
- Rent ledger verifying the balance of rent and late fees owed
Contact
If you need help with the online application, please email us at FORWARD-support@forwardplatform.com or call us at 1 (855) 933-5556.
If you need reasonable accommodation to complete the application due to a disability, please reach out to 1-855-582-3973.
