• ERA Alabama provides assistance to all counties and jurisdictions in Alabama with the exceptions and clarifications noted below:
• Baldwin County started accepting applications April 1. If you live in Baldwin County and submitted an application prior to 9:00 AM, Thursday, April 1, ERA Alabama will process the application. After 9:00 AM Thursday, April 1, follow this link to access the Baldwin County ERA system. (https://erap.baldwincountyal.gov) Call: (251)-239-4360
• Jefferson County started accepting applications May 10. If you live in Jefferson County and submitted your application prior to 9:00 AM, Monday, May 10, ERA Alabama will process your application. Beginning Monday, May 24, 2021, follow this link (https://erap.jccal.org) to access the Jefferson County Emergency Rental Assistance Program system. Applicants may also request support with the Jefferson County Emergency Rental Assistance community partners listed below:
  • The Birmingham Urban League: 205-326-0162 (https://birminghamul.org)
  • Bridge Ministries: 205-930-0309 (https://bridgeministriesbham.org)
• Mobile County started accepting applications March 1. Follow this link to access the Mobile County ERA system (https://www.mobilecountyal.gov/rental-and-utility-assistance) Call: 855-209-4970.
• Montgomery County started accepting applications April 22. If you live in Montgomery County and submitted an application prior to 9:00 AM, Thursday, April 22, ERA Alabama will process the application. After 9:00 AM Monday, April 22, follow this link to access Montgomery County ERA system. (https://www.mc-ala.org/services/emergency-rental-assistance-montgomery-county) Call: 1-833-823-0007
• The City of Birmingham started accepting applications April 26. If you live in the City of Birmingham and submitted an application prior to 10:00 AM, Monday, April 26, ERA Alabama will process the application. After 9:00 AM Monday, April 26, follow this link to access the City of Birmingham ERA system. (https://www.birminghamal.gov/renthelp) Call: 1-844-287-1250
• The City of Huntsville started accepting applications March 15. If you live in the City of Huntsville and submitted an application prior to 9:00 AM, Monday, March 15th, ERA Alabama will process the application. After 9:00 AM Monday, March 15th, follow this link to access the city of Huntsville ERA system. (https://www.huntsvilleal.gov/covid-19-emergency-rental-assistance) Call: 256-427-5400
• Madison County started accepting applications June 1. If you live in Madison County and submitted an application prior to 9:00 AM, Tuesday, June1, ERA Alabama will process the application. After 9:00 AM Tuesday, June 1, follow this link to access Madison County ERA system. (https://www.madisoncountyal.gov/services/emergency-rental-assistance) Call: 1-844-804-9454
• Tuscaloosa County started accepting applications July 12. If you live in Tuscaloosa County and submitted an application prior to Monday, July 12, ERA Alabama will process the application. After Tuesday, July 12, follow this link to access the Tuscaloosa County ERA system. (https://www.tuscco.com/erap) Call: 1-888-472-0027. For Technical Support, applicants may request help by emailing [email protected].
• If you live in an AHFA-funded project in one of the counties or jurisdictions that is not currently covered by Emergency Rental Assistance Alabama, the application will be submitted and processed through the ERA Alabama program. If you are not sure if the project is an AHFA-funded project, please contact the Call Center at 1-833-620-2434 for confirmation.

The Program began accepting applications Monday, March 1, 2021, at 8 a.m. Central Time and will remain open until all available funds have been committed. The duration of the Program will depend on the number of eligible applicants.

• Renter households must have an income no more than 80 percent of area median income (AMI) AND one or more members of the household must attest in writing that they have either:
  • qualified for unemployment benefits due to or during the pandemic
  • experienced a reduction in income
    incurred significant costs
    experienced other financial hardship
• AND one or more individuals within the household must demonstrate they either:
  • are at risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability, which may include a past due utility or rent notice or eviction notice, OR
  • live in unsafe or unhealthy housing conditions
• At the time of application submittal to ERA Alabama, the unit must be or have been the applicant’s primary residence during the months for which assistance is being requested.

The prioritization period has closed effective July 15, 2021. After all priority applications have been processed, ERA Alabama will process all other applications. All applications deemed complete submissions will be reviewed and processed on a first-come-first-serve basis subject to funding availability.

Program funds may be used to provide up to fifteen (15) months of assistance for the following expenses:

• Past due rent: rental arrears may be eligible starting March 13, 2020
• Rent: future rent for up to three months*
• Utilities: includes water, sewer, trash, power, internet and home energy (separately stated expenses related to occupancy of a dwelling such as propane or fuel oil) costs
  • Costs for telephone, cable, or satellite television are NOT eligible under this program

*While applicants may be assisted for up to 15 months, the Program will not commit funds for prospective (future) rent for more than a 3-month period at a time. Applicants must reapply every 3 months and will only be assisted if funds are still available.

Complete an online application OR Call a program representative at (833) 620-2434 (toll free) to apply over the phone. The toll-free number offers access to assistance in multiple languages.

• By applying online, the landlord can create a Landlord Profile and list all properties under their management, as well as identify each tenant for whom they are requesting assistance.
• After the landlord profile is complete and submitted, the system will automatically email each identified tenant, prompting them to complete their Tenant Profile.
• For tenants without an email address, the Landlord can print the application form, obtain a physical signature and upload the application and related income documents on the tenant’s behalf. If needed, tenants will be contacted by a Program representative to assist in gathering necessary information and documents to complete the Tenant Profile.

• The Landlord may provide all prospective tenants information in one application, to include:
• • Lessee Name, Email, Phone Number, Address, Lease Dates;, Monthly Rent, Past Due Rent, and Late Fees.
• The Landlord will be required to upload a lease, rental ledger and any other supporting information being careful to name documents clearly to align each tenant with their required documents.
• Following completion of the application, all tenants listed will receive an email invitation to participate in the program.

After submitting an application, you will be able to monitor the status of your application through the online dashboard or by calling (833) 620-2434 (toll free) to speak with a customer service representative. You will be notified if we need more information to complete your application.

• During the course of the application review process, ERA Alabama program personnel may request additional information from you and/or your tenants. You are encouraged to respond quickly to each request or assigned task to help expedite completion of the review. Serving as a facilitator for each tenant will ensure an efficient and successful review process.

Applicants that have received a denial can appeal the determination by submitting a Request for a Reconsideration form located on our Resources page.

Yes. Eligible households may receive up to 12 months of assistance, plus an additional 3 months, if ERA Alabama 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.

The Emergency Rental Assistance bill was passed as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 which provides $25 billion nationally for pandemic-response rental assistance. The program is administered through the U.S. Department of the Treasury. As part of this relief package, the State of Alabama/AHFA received approximately $263 million to administer the state entity program, Emergency Rental Assistance Alabama. Remaining funding totaling $63 million was allocated directly to local jurisdictions with populations greater than 200,000 to administer in their own jurisdictions: Baldwin County, Jefferson County, Madison County, Mobile County, Montgomery, Tuscaloosa County, The City of Birmingham and the City of Huntsville.

As part of the Program application, the landlord must submit the following documentation so we can confirm eligibility:

• Fully executed Rent or lease agreement (or rent receipt, bank statements, written attestation that formalizes the relationship between the Landlord and the Tenant if no current agreement)**Additional details can be found by reviewing Question 5 of the U.S. Department of the Treasury Emergency Rental Assistance FAQ.
• Rental ledger illustrating month over month charges and payments with current balance due
  • If any utility costs are included in rent OR collected by the Landlord on behalf of the utility provider, it must be stipulated in the rent or lease agreement and be reflected in the rental ledger by month
• If applying on behalf of a condominium or any other ownership entity, Authorized Representative proof of Completed and executed IRS Form W-9
• Eviction Notice(s) if applicable
• Household Certification Form (if not being provided by the tenant)
• Household Income Documentation, as listed above (if not being provided by the tenant)

Payments will be made using ACH deposit via Bill.com. Once a tenant’s application is approved, the landlord will be asked to provide bank routing information to Bill.com to complete the payment process. Landlords are encouraged to be prepared to provide this information immediately following receipt of an email from Bill.com.

If a tenant has already received assistance for a specific time period, the Program cannot provide duplicative assistance for that same time period. Tenants can apply for three months of future rent payments provided total past and future payments do not exceed the Program cap of 15 months, subject to the availability of funds.

An eligible household that occupies a federally subsidized residential or mixed-use property may receive Program assistance, provided that program funds are not applied to costs that have been or will be reimbursed under any other federal assistance.

If an eligible household receives a monthly federal subsidy (e.g., a Housing Choice Voucher, Public Housing, or Project-Based Rental Assistance) and the tenant rent is adjusted according to changes in income, the renter household may receive program assistance for the tenant-owed portion of rent or utilities that is not subsidized.

It is anticipated that the U.S. Department of Treasury may provide further guidance on this topic and when or if they do, AHFA will update these FAQs. These examples are not exhaustive but are the most common examples in the affordable housing industry. If in doubt, please email [email protected].

• Applicants will be eligible to submit an Additional Funds Request 30 days prior to the last day of the last month of assistance previously provided
• Applicants will receive a Congratulations notification through the Neighborly system indicating eligibility to apply for an Additional Funds Request
• Applicants may be eligible for additional rent and utility arrears PLUS 3 future months of assistance
• The combined assistance for the original and the additional funds requires may not exceed a collective total of 15 months
• Further instructions can be found on our How to Request Additional Funds document