Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA)

At your Columbus Urban League we are working to respond to the needs of those experiencing economic and financial challenges when it comes to paying their rent or mortgage.

Through multiple rounds of Emergency Rental Assistance (via the federal government, Franklin County and City of Columbus), we’ve helped hundreds of households stay intact.

With our latest round of funds, we are coordinating with other local providers to ensure a prompt response for anyone yet to receive 18 months of assistance (this is the maximum benefit length), providing up to three months of mortgage payments or first month/last month/deposit payments for renters.

Payment can only be made via electronic ACH (to landlords/mortgage holders, not the individual recipient), so landlords must be able to accept this payment type.

Here are the full requirements:

1. Funds are for Franklin County residents only – must reside in Franklin County

2. Eligibility is related to COVID direct or indirect impact 

Who is eligible to receive assistance under the Act and how should a grantee document the eligibility of a household?

A grantee may only use the funds provided in the ERA to provide financial assistance and housing stability services to eligible households. To be eligible, a household must be obligated to pay rent on a residential dwelling and the grantee must determine that:

  1. for ERA1:
    1. 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 COVID-19 outbreak;
    2. one or more individuals within the household can demonstrate a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability; and
    3. the household has a household income at or below 80 percent of area median income.
  2. for ERA2:
    1. 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 during or due, directly or indirectly, to the coronavirus pandemic;
    2. one or more individuals within the household can demonstrate a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability; and
    3. the household is a low-income family (as such term is defined in section 3(b) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)). 2

3. Landlord/Property Manager must accept payment via ACH

Questions? You can email housingstabilization@cul.org
(those without email can call 614-257-6300 Option 1)

The application can only be completed during or after the assessment appointment (face to face or virtual)

Please note that we also encourage landlords to initiate this process.

For Landlords: Once the process is started, all landlords will need to complete the following forms:
Taxpayer Certification Form
CUL Authorized Vendor Form
ACH Deposit Form

For Renters/Tenants: Complete the intake checklist and our team will reach out to you:
https://www.cul.org/rental-assistance-request-checklist/

NEW: CONSUMER ALERT: ERA Fraud Warning (please read)

Questions? Please email us at housingstabilization@cul.org.

Other Resources:
No one in Franklin County should lose their home or their rental income because of COVID-19. Rentful614 assists both renters and landlords in Central Ohio.

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