Subtitle B-Housing Provisions

SEC. 3201. EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE.

(d) Use Of Funds. -

(1)IN GENERAL. - An eligible grantee shall only use the funds provided from payments made under this section as follows:

(A) FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. -

(i) IN GENERAL. - Subject to clause (ii) of this subparagraph, funds received by an eligible grantee from payments made under this section shall be used to provide financial assistance to eligible households, not to exceed 18 months, including the payment of -

(I) rent;

(II) rental arrears;

(III) utilities and home energy costs;

(IV) utilities and home energy costs arrears; and

(V) other expenses related to housing, as defined by the Secretary.

[SNIP]

(2) ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLD. - The term "eligible household" means a household of 1 or more individuals who are obligated to pay rent on a residential dwelling and with respect to which the eligible grantee involved determines that -

(A) 1 or more individuals within the household has -

(i) qualified for unemployment benefits; or

(ii) experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs, or experienced other financial hardship during or due, directly or indirectly, to the coronavirus pandemic;

(B) 1 or more individuals within the household can demonstrate a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability; and

(C) the household is a low-income family (as such term is defined in section 3(b) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)).

Research Resources:

• American Rescue Plan Act 2021 Housing Assistance, Rental Assistance
• NOTE: You will need to contact your states housing department. This will be the same department HUD Housing assistance is offered. The program will be using HUD guidelines with slight changes such as the 15% Administrative fees the state can charge the federal government. Typically HUD limits this administrative fee to 6% of the total grant awarded to the Grantee (your state).
• Editors Note: Oct. 1, 2021 will mark the ending of the program for most, if you have not applied please do so otherwise the funds may be redirected to other programs that may not assist you. States have mastered transferring housing assistance unobligated to state coffers to balance budgets and fund state projects that may be unrelated.