Starting from November 22, 2021, we are accepting application for COVID-19 Emergency Rent Assistance Program ERAP-2. Historic Parkrose Neighborhood Prosperity Initiative (NPI) is partnering with the Portland Housing Bureau and Home Forward to provide rent assistance.

Purpose:
The COVID-19 Emergency Rent Assistance Program (ERAP) provides rent assistance to prevent households from experiencing evictions and homelessness due to the financial and health impacts of COVID-19. The priority is to serve communities experiencing the greatest adverse impacts from COVID-19, including Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color (BIPOC) and households with very-low incomes. The program includes funding from the Emergency Rent Assistance Program, allocation 2 funding, or “ERAP-2.”

ERAP-2 funds can serve households who are in rental housing or unhoused, and can pay for the following eligible expenses: current or future rent payments (future payments limited to 3 months), rent arrears, security deposits and fees. Funds are not eligible to pay for mortgage payments, utilities or direct cash assistance.

ERAP-2 funds should prioritize eviction prevention with a focus on payment of rental arrears allowable back to April 2020. Households who have received eviction notices for nonpayment of rent will be prioritized for the program. Current and future rents can be paid within the enclosed program guidelines.

Eligible Households:
To be eligible for the program, households must meet all three of the requirements below. There is no citizenship requirement for these funds.
1. Resident of City of Portland or Multnomah County
2. Experienced both of the following impacts due to COVID-19:
i. One or more individuals within the household has qualified for unemployment benefits; or, experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs, or experienced other financial hardship due, directly or indirectly, to the coronavirus pandemic
ii. One or more individuals within the household can demonstrate a risk of experiencing homelessness; or, housing instability

3. Household income at or below 80% of Area Median Income (AMI)
o Income is based on snapshot of current income at time of application – the current gross income of all household members, or the household’s total income for calendar year 2020.

Eligible Expenses:
• Rent arrears and late fees
• Current and future rent payments. (Future rent payments limited to 3 months)
• Security, application fees and late fees

Not eligible: utilities, mortgage payments, direct client assistance

Priorities:
Funding should be prioritized for households facing imminent eviction due to nonpayment of rent and the upcoming COVID Eviction Moratorium payment deadline of February 28, 2022 for past due rents.

Assistance Limits:
• An eligible household may receive up to 9 months of rent assistance with ERAP-2 funds. Prospective rent payments may not exceed 3 months of rent assistance (this is counted toward the total limit of 9 months of ERAP-2 rent assistance).
• For households previously assisted with ERAP-1: Households are limited to receive a maximum of 18 months total assistance from ERAP-1 and ERAP-2 funds.

Preference: A preference is in place for households at or below 50% AMI, or households with one or more members who have been unemployed for at least 90 days before the date of application. A household who meets one of the preferences is eligible to receive up to 12 months of rent assistance.