New Rent and Utility Help for Tenants Is Here

A new utility and rent assistance program from St. Louis County started accepting applications on April 5.

It helps low- and moderate-income households that have had a loss of income, qualified for unemployment benefits, or experienced financial hardship due to the pandemic.

St. Louis County and City recieved aid directly from the federal government to set up their own relief programs.

The $29.7 million in assistance for St. Louis County is part of the COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP), funded directly through the national program that was approved by Congress in December 2020.

The state of Missouri also received funding through the federal program, but it is not available to St. Louis County residents EXCEPT for the existing statewide ERAP program for direct relief to landlords for past-due rent.

The St. Louis County program will cover:

• Past-due rent and utilities going back to April 2020
• Up to 3 months of forward rent assistance (for those who do not owe past-due rent)
• Utility assistance for current invoices

Total assistance any tenant receives is limited to a period of one year.

To apply, visit https://stlouisco.onlinepha.com