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NH Emergency Rental Assistance Toolkit

A new federally funded New Hampshire Emergency Rental Assistance Program (NHERAP) launched March 15, 2021 to provide assistance to eligible residents who cannot pay their rent and utilities due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. NHERAP will cover past-due and future rent payments; utilities, such as electricity, home heating costs, water, sewer, trash; and other housing-related costs such as internet and relocation expenses associated directly or indirectly with COVID-19. Relocation expenses including rental application fees, utility hook-up fees, and security deposits are eligible. Click here for program details.

The five regional Community Action Partnership (CAP) agencies are accepting applications and administering payments for the program. Full program guidelines and the NHERAP application (online and a printable form) are available at www.CAPNH.org.

Visit the NHERAP Data Dashboard (Governor’s Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery – GOFERR)

This program is for renters and landlords, not homeowners. The federal Homeowner Assistance Fund Program (HAF), which will provide assistance to homeowners impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, will be launched later this year. 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. This is a free service offered by Granite United Way and they will help identify resources available for you, which could include a referral for free housing counseling services. 

The NHERAP 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.

Who NHERAP Has Helped

Keene

I just saw what you all paid for us today and I cried and couldn’t stop! We were on payment plans for everything and days before shut offs. I cannot put into words how grateful we are that you helped and we will not ever forgot this. We felt hopeless and like we were drowning in bills and depressed. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts, I feel like we have a new start!

Laconia

I am a single parent – a homeless disabled veteran – who was able to find housing at the start of the pandemic. One of my children was ill and at high risk at getting COVID. I had stay home for remote learning and was unable to get a job in the medical field due to concerns of infecting my child. With your help, we have been able to maintain our housing.

Manchester

The past year has been devastating financially as well as emotionally. To have a program that helps with overwhelming debt is such a God-send. The staff has made it uncomplicated and non-embarrassing. The worst thing about living with this heavy weight on your shoulders is having to ask for help but the staff has been informative, kind and has helped our situation in immeasurable ways. I cannot thank everyone enough and can now hopefully move forward with hope.

Manchester

Dozens of our residents have taken advantage of the rental assistance program… Tenants have been able to get up to three months rent covered, and the process has been relatively smooth…We took a proactive approach, sending out forms to tenants who were behind on rent, and working with tenants and CAP to complete the applications [from a property management company].
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NHERAP PROGRAM LINKS

Please note that there is a federal eviction moratorium. This means that through June 30, 2021, landlords may not evict tenants due to nonpayment of rent during COVID-19 when tenants give their landlord the CDC Eviction Declaration Form.
If you need assistance with an eviction, contact 603 Legal Aid, which provides free civil legal services to low-income people.

RENTER & LANDLORD RESOURCES