NEWSLETTER: Apply for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program

Last week, the Biden Administration announced that the Centers for Disease Control would extend the moratorium on evictions through October 3 for high-impact COVID-19 areas. I join in applauding this decision, which applies to many communities in the Fifth District. As we work to get more Marylanders vaccinated to curtail the spread of the Delta variant and make our communities safer, we must also protect families that continue to struggle from the weight of the economic consequences of COVID-19. In Maryland, an estimated 129,000 families are behind on rent because of this pandemic – 78% of those families are families of color, and an overwhelming majority have faced job and income loss during this crisis.

Congress has passed legislation to allocate billions of dollars in emergency funding for renters and homeowners, and established the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERA). The passage of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act in December awarded $401 million to Maryland for renters in need. Thanks to the American Rescue Plan, an additional $352 million was allocated to Maryland for a second phase of funding for the ERA. States are required to spend the first phase of funding before they can spend the next, which is why state and local jurisdictions in Maryland ought to act quickly to deliver aid to families in need.

I urge Governor Hogan to extend the moratorium on evictions until Marylanders can get relief from the assistance that Congress has provided. If you are a family that is eligible to apply for the ERA programs, you can find important links below.

For rental assistance and additional resources by county, see the links below:

• Anne Arundel County: For general information on housing assistance, click here. To apply for assistance, click here.
• Calvert County: For general information on housing assistance and to apply for rental assistance click here.
• Charles County: For general information on housing assistance and to apply for rental assistance, click here.
• Prince George's County: For general information on housing, click here. To apply for rental assistance, click here.
• St. Mary's County: For general information on housing, click here. To apply for rental assistance, click here.

For more information about the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, see below:

• Click here to learn about the Maryland Emergency Rental Assistance Program.
• Learn more about the Department of Treasury Emergency Rental Assistance Program here.

I will continue to work in Congress to help Fifth District families at risk of eviction. I hope that the state works expeditiously to deliver the funds that Congress has already approved to Marylanders and provide additional support for families in need.

As always, I encourage all Fifth District residents to continue to share their concerns and insights with me by contacting my office or connecting with me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. If you are experiencing a personal difficulty such as issues accessing veterans benefits or another problem regarding a federal agency and you wish for my office to place an inquiry on your behalf, please complete the casework request form by clicking here.

Sincerely Yours,

Steny H. Hoyer