DC Emergency Rental Assistance Program portal now open following technical issues

WASHINGTON - D.C. residents eager to apply for the Department of Human Services' Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) on Tuesday were met with disconnected dial tones, and a notice on the website that read, "Website currently under maintenance. Come back soon."

At-large DC Councilmember Robert White said he would follow up with DHS to find out why the portal wasn't ready for the influx of applications since the same issue happened in October 2023.

"Residents need help," he posted. "This is unacceptable."

The application portal opened Tuesday, Jan. 2, at 12:00 p.m. and will remain open until 3,500 people apply.

Who is eligible for D.C.'s Emergency Rental Assistance Program?

The ERAP helps locals who are facing housing emergencies, such as eviction, cover the cost of their overdue rent.

Applicants must earn 40% or less than the area's median income, live in one of the city's eight wards, and be at least 30 days behind in rent.

How much money can D.C. residents receive from the ERAP?

The program will fund residents' security deposits and first month's rent, plus you can receive up to five times the rental amount based on where you live and the size of your apartment/house.

The last time, DHS opened the application portal, it received 3,578 submissions, and just under 300 people were denied funds. A whopping $638,849.00 was disbursed to residents, and city records show there was a surplus of $29,604,983.00 after the last fiscal year.

When will you know if you are selected for the ERAP?

DHS claims applications are processed in the order that they are received. Once you apply, your paperwork will be reviewed by one of six community-based organizations that administer the ERAP program. When an organization has started reviewing your application, you will receive an email notification. Once all documents are submitted, your eligibility will be determined within 10 days.