Louisiana Emergency Rental Assistance Program for Renters and Landlords
The State of Louisiana is launching the U.S. Treasury Emergency Rental Assistance Program to provide emergency relief assistance to Louisiana residents who are at risk of experiencing homelessness or housing inability due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To learn more about the U.S. Treasury Emergency Rental Assistance Program, click here.
The state program financial assistance to cover past-due rent dating back to as earl as April 1, 2020 and forward rent paid in increments of up to three months. This relief package includes $25 billion for emergency rental assistance, of which $161 million has been allocated to the state to provide assistance in all 57 Louisiana parishes.
For those who live in East Baton Rouge you must apply directly to the program on the parish website. Click here for more information on how to apply if you are in East Baton Rouge Parish.
The remaining Baton Rouge Metro Area Parishes of will apply at the State website
- Ascension
- East Feliciana
- Iberville
- Livingston
- Pointe Coupee
- St. Helena
- West Baton Rouge
- West Feliciana
Click here for more information on how to apply if you are in one of the remaining Metro Parishes.
When applying for this program, you will need to register for an account with an active email address, create a password and make sure to notify if you are a renter or landlord applicant.
PROGRAM INFORMATION
Eligibility
An “eligible household” is defined as a renter household in which at least one or more individuals meets the following criteria:
- Qualifies for unemployment or has experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs, or experienced a financial hardship due to COVID-19;
Demonstrates a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability; and
Has a household income at or below 80 percent of the area median.
- Rental assistance provided to an eligible household should not be duplicative of any other federally funded rental assistance provided to such household.
- Eligible households that include an individual who has been unemployed for the 90 days prior to application for assistance and households with income at or below 50 percent of the area median are to be prioritized for assistance.
- Household income is determined as either the household’s total income for calendar year 2020 or the household’s monthly income at the time of application. For household incomes determined using the latter method, income eligibility must be redetermined every 3 months.
Available Assistance
Eligible households may receive up to 12 months of assistance, plus an additional 3 months if the grantee determines the extra months are needed to ensure housing stability and grantee funds are available.
The payment of existing housing-related arrears that could result in eviction of an eligible household is prioritized.
Assistance must be provided to reduce an eligible household’s rental arrears before the household may receive assistance for future rent payments.
Once a household’s rental arrears are reduced, grantees may only commit to providing future assistance for up to three months at a time.
Households may reapply for additional assistance at the end of the three-month period if needed and the overall time limit for assistance is not exceeded.
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