Emergency Rent Assistance Program (ERA) is sponsored by City of Saint Paul, Minnesota. Offers support to renter households facing eviction due to unforeseen circumstances.

Emergency Rent Assistance Program (ERA) | Saint Paul Minnesota Emergency Rent Assistance Program (ERA) Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) Applications Will Be Open the 1st and 2nd Day of Each Month Starting in April Thank you for your interest in the Emergency Rental Assistance. Applications will be open the first two days of each month. Due to high demand, applicants will be entered into a lottery.

All applications will be notified of their application status on the 3rd day of the month. Being selected in the lottery is not a guarantee of funding. The Emergency Rental Assistance Program offers support to renter households in Saint Paul facing a pending eviction due to unforeseen circumstances when other assistance options are unavailable.

Eligible households may receive a one-time payment of up to $3,500 for late rent and associated fees, paid directly to the landlord. Residents are only eligible for funding once a year. 1.

Review Program Eligibility Leased residence is within Saint Paul city limits and has an active lease The ERA program cannot assist with living situations such as emergency shelter, or where households do not reside in one place for more than 30 days.

Locate your address on either the Saint Paul Property Search or the Certificate of Occupancy Map to determine if property is located within City limits Recently experienced an unforeseen event resulting in an eviction notice 30-day notice of intent to evict (Notice to Quit), or Housing Court Summons Meet an income restriction of 80% Area Median Income (AMI) or less* No member of the household has received funding from this program in the last 12 months.

Upon approval, tenants will receive a letter of guarantee that they will not be evicted from their unit by their landlord for missed rent that ERA funds will cover. Fiscal Year 2025 80% Area Median Income 1 Person 2. Tenant Completes an Application Please see the Guide for Applying to the Emergency Rental Assistance Program for more information about applying.

You may also reach out to program staff at StPaulERA@stpaul. gov or 651-266-6671. This phone line is only monitored during the first 3 days of the month.

When applying, additional documentation will be requested and can be uploaded in the application portal or included with your paper application. This includes: Evidence of a pending eviction 30-day notice of intent to evict (Notice to Quit), or Applications that have a court summons date that passed prior to applying will be denied. If a WRIT is issued at any time, the application will be denied.

Applicants are required to submit one type of income verification from the chart below. The same category must be used for all income-earners in the household above the age of 18. 3.

Landlord Completes an Application & Vendor Setup Once a tenant submits an application, their landlord will be notified using the contact information provided by the tenant. The landlord will be prompted to complete an application. This part is required before staff can proceed with review.

The landlord application is specific to each tenant. If a landlord has multiple households applying for the program, a separate landlord application is required for each household. The landlord will receive a link to create a vendor page for PaymentWorks, the City of Saint Paul’s secure payment platform.

Once applications are submitted by both the tenant and landlord, staff members can help talk to landlords as requested. Staff members will review the tenant and landlord applications. Review is based on the eligibility criteria outlined above (also in the program guidelines linked under program materials).

If the amount needed by the tenant is higher than $3,500, the balance must be brought to $3,500 prior to approval. Please see the additional resources below. If a tenant is eligible for assistance, applicants and their landlord will receive an approval letter/Letter of Guarantee.

If a tenant is not eligible for assistance, they will receive a denial letter with details on alternative resources to explore. If approved, staff will pay the landlord directly using the banking information provided by the landlord when they set up their PaymentWorks vendor profile. Required Income Documents Required Income Documents Applicants need to submit documents for one category.

Start with category 1.

Proof you are currently enrolled in any qualified program (Must have an award letter showing current enrollment; cards are not accepted ) Tax return for the most recent year Proof of income (provide documents for all earners over 18) Self employment (provide all documents listed here) Medical Assistance for single adults over 18 EA/FHPAP within the last 90 days A copy of your last recertification letter from the PHA **If you are enrolled in another program that you don't see, contact staff for eligibility Full Form 1040, filled and signed for all non-dependents above the age of 18 If the head of household is a dependent on another tax return, use category 3 or 4 Paystubs showing 30 days of earnings Social Security award letter Documentation of child support, alimony, or foster care payments Certification of zero income (see document on ERA website) 1040 Return for business included Schedule C Documentation of gross receipts and/or Profit & Loss Statement Frequently Asked Questions Frequently Asked Questions You can either apply online at stpaul.

gov/era or over the phone. Please contact staff at 651-266-6671 in order to complete an application over the phone. Paper applications can be made available via email, mailed, or delivered in person if you contact staff in advance, however, we encourage calling first.

Do you send the money to me? The assistance is sent directly to the landlord. We anticipate all applications selected by lottery will be processed in one month.

Having a complete application from both you and your landlord, the process moves more quickly. In what order will applications be processed? The program is operated via a lottery, and applicants will be notified of their lottery status on the 3rd day of the month.

When is an application considered complete? A complete application has the tenant form, landlord form, and all required supplemental documents. I have a question about my documentation; who can I call?

Please contact us at StPaulERA@stpaul. gov or 651-266-6671 during the application period. Staff can either answer your question immediately or put you in contact with a project manager for more information.

Once you submit your application, you will be assigned a project manager and can contact them directly. What if I don’t have contact information for my landlord? Is there a management company your landlord hires?

Otherwise, please provide everything you know about them in your application, and make sure you sign the application so city staff can help find and contact your landlord. Is there any limitation on how many months’ late rent I can apply to receive assistance for? No. This program can provide up to a total of $3,500 per applicant household to cover any late rent and any associated fees.

If you owe more than $3,500 in late rent, you can apply to other programs that may be able to provide assistance. We recommend you start by calling United Way’s 211 help line. We cannot approve an application until the remaining balance owed to your landlord is at $3,500 or less.

If you can’t help with legal issues, where can I get help? There are a few resources available, including HOMEline , and Southern MN Regional Legal Services (SMRLS) . However, another great resource is to make sure you attend your hearing date if it has been set.

Ramsey County operates a court clinic. You can set up an appointment on Tuesdays at 10 a. m.

to schedule by calling 651-266-8391. Did I get the right eviction notice to be able to apply to this program? This program requires that you have received a 30-Day Notice to Quit/30-Day notice of intent to evict OR an eviction court summons.

We cannot accept applications for tenants who have only received a late rent notice. Can you cover other expenses? This program only covers late rent and any associated fees for a maximum of $3,500.

I can’t find housing; can you pay for a hotel? This program only covers rent for people facing an eviction. Please contact United Way by calling 211 for up-to-date information on a variety of programs that may be able to help.

Can you cover mortgage payments? This program only covers rent for people facing an eviction. Foreclosure prevention advising can be found here: https://www.

hocmn. org/for-homeowners/foreclosure-prevention / I can’t find my lease or I don’t have a lease. Can I still apply?

Most likely. When you apply, be sure to sign the application so a project manager can work with your landlord, since they may have a copy of your lease. I live in public housing; can I still apply?

Yes! You can apply, so long as you fit the program requirements such as having proof of an eviction. Language Access and Reasonable Accommodation Policy All application and marketing, electronic interface, and print materials will be translated into English, Spanish, Somali, and Hmong, and in some cases, Karen and Oromo.

Intake and navigation services are also available in these languages. Applicants needing additional language assistance can request accommodations by contacting City staff. For emergency assistance: United Way’s 211 (2-1-1), this source can get you connected to Ramsey County Services and other grants that may currently exist.

Salvation Army (651-776-8169) Keystone Community Services (651-917-3883) City of Saint Paul Fair Housing State of Minnesota Emergency Assistance Ramsey County Emergency Assistance More resources may be available when you attend housing court. If you receive a court summons, please attend your hearing for additional resources.