The Placer County Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) provides financial assistance to eligible low-income renters in Placer County to pay for past due or current rent and utility payments. Applicants must show a loss in income or other related financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic to qualify.

The program is for low-income renters, with payments provided directly to landlords. To be eligible for assistance, your household must have an income at or below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) and be able to prove one of the following due to COVID-19:

• Have lost income or qualify for unemployment benefits
• Incurred significant costs, or experienced a financial hardship
• Are at risk of housing instability or eviction

*Income eligible applicants who have been unemployed for 90 or more days or who are at below 50% of the Placer County AMI will be given priority.

A household is defined as any individuals living in one dwelling. Occupants can consist of a single family, two or more families who live together, or any group of related or unrelated individuals who share a common housing unit. Income for all household members 18 years old or older will be considered when calculating annual household income.

The program will consider the following forms of income when determining eligibility:

• Gross earnings from wages, salaries, and overtime pay, including earnings for those in the Armed Forces
• Interest, dividends, and other net income from real or personal property
• Social security, insurance, retirement/pension, disability, or death benefit payments (full amount of periodic payments)
• Unemployment, disability compensations, worker’s compensation, or severance payments
• CalWORKs, TANF, GR, Medi-Cal or Covered California payments
• Alimony, Child Support, regular contributions or gifts received from organizations or people outside of the residence
• If you are self-employed: the net income from the operation of a business or profession

You will NOT be asked to include:

• Income from employment of children under 18
• Payments received for the care of foster children or foster adults
• Inheritance or life insurance disbursements
• Student financial aid
• Adoption assistance

Once you have determined that you are eligible, be sure to have the following ready before you apply:

Proof you live in Placer County

• A rental agreement that shows your address, rent amount and signatures from you and your landlord

Proof you are at risk of housing instability or eviction

• A past due rent or utility bill, or eviction notice

Proof you lost income due to COVID-19 (ONE of the following)

• Termination letter from your job
• Most recent paystub with employer information
• Copy of unemployment application or proof of current or expired benefits, including Federal unemployment benefits
• If you are self-employed: tax records, income statements or other proof you have lost income

Proof you are income eligible
*Household income is based on either the household’s total income for calendar year 2020 or the household’s monthly income at the time of application. The program will consider any of the following proof of income paperwork:

• 1040 form from 2020 tax return

or ONE of the following:

• Last two paystubs
• W-2 or other wage statement
• Proof of Social Security, retirement/pension, disability, or death benefit payments
• Bank statements showing regular deposits of income
• Unemployment, disability compensations, worker’s compensation, and severance pay
• Proof of payments from CalWORKs, TANF, GR, Medi-Cal or Covered California
• Alimony, Child Support, regular contributions or gifts received from organizations or people outside of the residence
• Sworn statement from your employer
• For self-employed: tax records, income statements or other proof showing loss of income

If you are applying for utility assistance only

• Past due or current utility bill, may include natural gas and propane, electricity, garbage, water, and sewer bills

Income eligible households may receive financial assistance for unpaid rent or utilities dating back to March 2020. Additional assistance for current or future rent or utility bills through March 2022 may also be available and will be provided in three-month increments. Households already participating in the Rent Help Placer program may be eligible to reapply at the end of the three-month period if further financial assistance is needed. Participants will be contacted by an application processor if and when there is an opportunity to re-apply.

No, the program does not ask about citizenship and will not ask for Social Security numbers.

No. This program is for renters only.

No, if they meet the eligibility requirements, they can receive assistance paying current rent or utilities.

Landlords should cooperate with their renters and participate in this program to ensure faster payment of past due rent. However, assistance may be provided directly to the renter if the landlord or utility provider chooses not to participate, and additional information may be required by the applicant.

Applications will be prioritized in the following order:

1. Renters whose household income is less than 50% Area Median Income (AMI)
OR Renters whose household income is less than 80% AMI and have been unemployed for 90 consecutive days prior to submitting an application
A program staff member will be in contact within 7 business days to start your application process.

2. Renters whose household income is greater than 50% but less than 80% AMI
You will be placed on a waitlist while we prioritize those at greatest risk for eviction. A program staff member will be in contact within 21 business days to start your application process.

No, the application process is available only to eligible renters. If you are a landlord, encourage your renter to apply. You will be notified once an application has been successfully submitted and asked to provide other required information for an application to be processed and approved.

Landlords have an important role to play in the application process. We encourage Placer County landlords to assist their renters in the application process, to familiarize themselves with the information required for an application to be processed, and to promote the program to their renters. This is a renter-centered program, so renter eligibility must be determined to receive assistance paying unpaid, current or future rent and utility bills.

Eligible applicants will be assigned to an application processor who will be the best point contact for questions and assistance completing the application. Pre-applicants who need special assistance with initiating the process should call 211 or 1-833-342-5211.

Rent Help Placer is for Placer County residents ONLY. If you live outside Placer County, visit EmergencyRentalAssistanceProgram.com to find your local Emergency Rental Assistance Program. Or visit HousingIsKey.com for more information about COVID-19 Rent Relief in California.

Rent Help Placer:

• If you are an income eligible renter in Placer County and need help paying past due, current or future rent or utilities because of a financial hardship caused by COVID-19, you may be eligible for assistance through the Rent Help Placer program. Payments will be made directly to landlords and utility providers.
• For additional assistance regarding eligibility or for help with your application, please call 211Placer (833-342-5211)
• Priority assistance will be given to households who are at or below 50% AMI or have someone in the household who has been unemployed for 90 consecutive days prior to submitting an application.

Housing Is Key:

• If you are an income eligible landlord or renter outside of Placer County and need help with past due, current or future rent or utilities because of a financial hardship caused by COVID-19, you may be eligible for assistance through the CA COVID-19 Rent Relief program. Payments will be made directly to landlords and utility providers
• Visit HousingIsKey.com or call 833-430-2122 to check eligibility, find a Local Partner Network organization near you, and apply today!
• Priority assistance will be given to households who are at or below 50% AMI or who are at greatest risk of eviction.