Emergency Rental Assistance Now Available Through Federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

If you’re a renter having trouble paying your rent, utilities, or other housing costs – or if you’re a landlord trying to stay afloat with tenants in this situation – help may be available. State and local programs are distributing billions of dollars in rental assistance to help renters stay housed during the pandemic.

Thanks to the American Rescue Plan, billions of dollars in federal rental assistance is reaching renters behind on housing costs, as well as landlords who have struggled during the pandemic. These programs are run locally, and right now emergency rental assistance is available across the country.

Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released a new look up tool (consumerfinance.gov/renthelp) that allows renters and landlords to find information on local emergency rental assistance in their area. A coordinated effort between many public and private organizations seeks to prevent evictions— alleviating financial strain to both renters and landlords.

Visit the CFPB’s Rental Assistance Finder here to find out what this means for you and what you can do. The CFPB’s site also includes resources to help renters and landlords understand other resources to help navigate various financial hardships related to the pandemic.