Jefferson County Alabama Jefferson County Commission
Rent Relief

Jefferson County Alabama

Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)

Renters FAQs

Renters FAQs

Landlords FAQs

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The Jefferson County Commission has approved a federally funded Emergency Rental Assistance Program for those Jefferson County renters that have been negatively impacted by COVID-19 and need help with rent and utility bills. Once again, the County has partnered with the following organizations that will manage the program: Salvation Army & Bridge Ministries.

To be eligible for the program citizens must be able to show the following:
  • They are residents of Jefferson County
  • Have a household income at or below 80% of the Area median Income
  • Be at risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability
  • Document a financial hardship (COVID-19 impact) by meeting one of the following:
    • Qualified for unemployment benefits
    • Experienced a reduction in household income, incurred a significant costs, or document a financial hardship due to COVID-19

Help is limited to 12-15 months, however in some cases an additional three months of assistance may be provided to ensure housing stability.
Expenses can only be paid if they are due on or after March 13, 2020. Based on need, the program may also pay for up to three months of future rent and utilities.
Expenses that can be covered:
  • Rent
  • Electricity
  • Gas
  • Water
  • Sewer
  • Trash removal
  • Home energy costs including propane and fuel oil
  • Other costs related to housing including internet expenses paid to the unit (but not cable, home phone or cell phone) and reasonably accrued late fees

Recommended Browser: Google Chrome
Be sure to have all documents saved on your computer or smart device prior to beginning the application.

  • A valid e-mail address.
  • Name & Address of Landlord or Management Company
  • Rent & Utilities Due
  • Identification documentation (must include an ID such as a driver’s license, REAL ID, passport, permanent resident card, or other photo identification)
  • Documentation that supports the household income listed in the application (include one of the following):
    • Current Year or Most Recent Tax Filing (form 1040) for all adults in your household;
    • Current Year or Most Recent W-2 Earnings Statements from all jobs for all adults;
    • Notice of eligibility (Current Year or Most Recent) for public benefits based on income from programs such as SNAP, food stamps, Women, Infants and Children (WIC), Medicaid, Medicare, Daycare Assistance, Housing Voucher, Section 8 Housing Assistance, LIHEAP, and Public Housing
    • Monthly paystubs for all adult household members for all jobs for the last 2 months
    • Bank statements showing all adult household members’ income and earnings
    • Other evidence of income for all adult household members
    • Self-certification of no income.
    • or other reasonable documentation.
  • Documentation showing I have an obligation to pay rent at my address (e.g. signed lease agreement, documentation that shows a history of paying rent such as check copies or bank statements, a written attestation from the verified owner or management agent of the unit, evidence of paying utilities for the residential unit, or other reasonable documentation)
  • Documentation showing the costs for which I have requested assistance. Documentation must show the amount due for each month. For outstanding payments due, documentation must show the months that are outstanding and the amount due for each month for which there is an outstanding balance. (e.g. copies of utility bills for the rental unit in the household’s name, evidence of rent payments made to the landlord through copies of checks or receipts of rent paid, bank statements, eviction notice issued to the household or notice of Demand for Payment that lists amounts due by month including fees, written attestation by a landlord who can be verified as the legitimate owner or management agent of the unit with sufficient monthly detail, landlord ledger establishing past-due amount including dates of service for which there is an outstanding balance, or other documentation that reasonably established a pattern of paying rent and amounts due)
  • Documentation showing my household has experienced a direct or indirect negative economic impact due to COVID-19 (such as a COVID-19 related job loss, reduced hours, reduced tips, loss of opportunities such as grants or scholarships due to the higher education institution closing, medical cost related to COVID-19, increased costs of distance learning or work from home, increased child-care, or medical expenses, etc.)
    Documentation must include at least one:
    • I have included documentation that some in my household qualified for unemployment benefits (e.g. a notice of approval for unemployment benefits, evidence of unemployment payment, or other relevant documentation)
    • I have included documentation that shows my household experienced a reduction in income, incurred significant costs, or experienced other financial hardship directly or indirectly due to or during the COVID-19 outbreak (e.g. notice from an employer of reduced hours, notice from an employer of termination, an attestation from an employer regarding a reduction in hours, pay or termination, paystubs demonstrating a reduction in pay, bank statements demonstrating reduced income, COVID-19 related medical or funeral bills, an attestation from a caseworker familiar with your circumstances, or other supporting documentation (including a self-attestation) that shows COVID-19 impact)
  • Documentation showing household is at risk of housing instability or homelessness (past due utility, eviction notice, etc.)

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