Miami-Dade County Commissioners approve Emergency Rental Assistance Program

County program will help families facing problems paying rent due to COVID-19

MIAMI ( July 09, 2020 ) —

Today the Miami-Dade County Board of Commissioners approved the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP). This $10 million program is intended to help families who are having problems paying their rent due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It will provide a one-time benefit to assist with their rent.

“I commend the commissioners on their swift action to approve the Emergency Rental Assistance Program,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez. “This is a vital program that will help families throughout our County get through the unprecedented hardships resulting from the current health crisis.”

The amount of rental assistance will depend on family size and bedroom size of the housing unit, the rent owed, and current household income, which must be no more than 80 percent of the annual Area Median Income (AMI) as determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). For a single person, 80 percent of AMI is $51,200.

To read details on the program, including how the rental assistance is calculated, and other features of the program, read the “ERAP Frequently Asked Questions” in English, Spanish or Creole.

To be eligible, your residence must be in Miami-Dade County, your current household income must not exceed 80% of AMI, you must have a copy of the executed lease between you and your property owner or landlord, and you must certify that your household does not receive any other rental subsidy (for example: Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher, Public Housing, VASH, HOME, Tenant Based Rental Assistance, and Emergency Solutions Grant/Hand). Residents must also provide documents that will be submitted as part of the application. (see FAQs)

A link to applications will be available online starting on next Tuesday, July 14 at 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Friday, July 17, 2020. For details, click here.

If you cannot get access to apply online, paper applications will be available. Check Frequently Asked Questions in in English, Spanish or Creole for specific information on paper applications. You may contact Miami-Dade Public Housing and Community Development (PHCD) by calling 305-723-1815 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. However, residents who want to participate in the program are strongly encouraged to do so online because it is the safer and fastest way to apply.