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HomeEmergency Rental Assistance For Rent and Utilities Is Available
November 1, 2021
The NH Emergency Rental Assistance Program provides financial assistance for New Hampshire renters who cannot pay their rent and utilities during the pandemic. The program works with tenants and landlords. The state’s five Community Action Partnership agencies accept and process applications for assistance. Applications can be submitted at CAPNH.org.
Since it launched in March, NHERAP has expended $50 million to help more than 7,000 New Hampshire households remain in their homes by making payments to property owners and utility companies. Funding for NHERAP is expected to be available through at least 2022.
As of October 1, 2021, eligibility guidelines for the NH Emergency Rental Assistance Program (NHERAP) state:
- Households may qualify for assistance for past-due and future rent and utility payments for a period not to exceed 18 months.
- At least one person in the household must have qualified for unemployment benefits, had their income reduced, had significant costs, or had other financial hardship during the pandemic. Certain income requirements must be met.
- Past-due rent including reasonable late and legal fees.
- Three months of future rent payments if needed for housing stability.
- Utilities, such as electricity, home heating costs, water, sewer, trash.
- Other housing-related costs such as internet and relocation expenses (including rental application fees, utility hook-up fees, and security deposits).
- Households may qualify for utility assistance even if they do not receive or need rental assistance.
For eligibility details and to apply, go to: CAPNH.org or call 2-1-1
The national eviction moratorium ended in August. If you need assistance with an eviction: Contact 603 Legal Aid, which provides free civil legal services to low-income people. Note that Governor Sununu signed Senate Bill 126, which bars eviction for nonpayment of rent if tenants have paid or have qualified for rental assistance.
NH Emergency Rental Assistance Program is for renters and landlords, not homeowners. The federal Homeowner Assistance Fund Program (HAF), which will provide assistance to homeowners impacted by the pandemic is expected to launch in January 2022. If you are at risk of foreclosure or are having difficulty paying your home mortgage, utilities, home insurance or property taxes, please call 2-1-1 and visit HomeHelpNH.org. These services are supported by Granite United Way.
The New Hampshire Emergency Rental Assistance Program is a federally funded rental assistance program through the Governor’s Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery (GOFERR). It is administered by New Hampshire Housing, in collaboration with GOFERR and the Community Action Partnership agencies.