City of St. Louis Launching Emergency Rental Assistance Program

The City of St. Louis announced today that the application process for emergency rental assistance will open to St. Louis residents on Dec. 3.

“Keeping people in their homes is vital for our community,” said Mayor Tishaura O. Jones. “For many families, getting evicted will only make a bad situation worse, and it can become impossible to recover from, ultimately hurting that individual, that family, and our community. Providing this emergency assistance makes it easier for St. Louisans to dig themselves out of a challenging situation.”

The Emergency Rental Assistance Program is designed to support St. Louisans who are struggling with past-due rental payments and were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The program offers a one-time payment to cover overdue rental payments and to prevent evictions. Funding is to eligible applicants on a first-come, first-served basis, so eligible residents are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

“The launch of the St. Louis Emergency Rental Assistance Program marks a significant step forward in supporting our St. Louis residents who have been hardest hit by the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Adam Pearson, director of the Department of Human Services. “This program is designed to provide immediate relief to low-income families facing eviction, giving them the stability they need to recover and rebuild. Our goal is to ensure that everyone in our community, regardless of their financial situation, has the opportunity to stay in their home. By delivering targeted assistance where it’s needed most, we’re not only protecting individuals but strengthening the fabric of our city as we move toward a more resilient and equitable future.”

The City has made $3.3 million available for emergency rental assistance through federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds. The City of St. Louis Community Development Administration (CDA) has partnered with FORWARD to operate the program.

“More than 35,000 city households pay over 30% of their income on rent, leaving little room for essentials like food, childcare and transportation. Nearly 5,000 city households are evicted each year," said CDA Executive Director Nahuel Fefer. “We recognize that access to safe, quality, and affordable housing is a human right, and this Covid relief-funded Emergency Rental Assistance Program is an important step toward ensuring that all city residents have a stable place to call home.”

To be eligible for the program, St. Louis residents must meet the eligibility criteria:

• One or more individuals in the household are facing a challenge that prevents them from paying their rent on time;
• One or more individuals within the household can demonstrate a risk of experiencing housing instability;
• Income of 80% and below the Area Median Income (AMI) with priority for households with 50% or less AMI; 
• Applicants must be 18+ or an emancipated 15+ adult (with documentation); and
• Reside within the city of St. Louis.

The City of St. Louis approved FORWARD as the program administrator contractor to assist with community outreach, application support, and screening for eligibility in a way that uses taxpayer dollars efficiently. Applicants can expect the following:

• To apply through FORWARD’s online application portal, available in 68 languages
• Access to application support available in multiple languages via phone, text and email
• To meet income requirements
• To present proof of residency
• To submit proof of income and identification
• To meet geographic area requirements
• To include details of a past due rent or eviction notice

To learn more about the program, please visit the Emergency Rental Assistance page.

Starting Dec. 3, applications can be submitted on the FORWARD site.