The Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) helps D.C. residents who earn less than 40 percent of the Area Median Income with money for overdue rent when they face housing emergencies.

The program also covers late fees and court costs if the qualified household is facing eviction. And it supports security deposits and the first month’s rent for residents moving into new rental units.

The amount paid on behalf of eligible households depends upon available resources and is subject to certain limitations.

An ERAP application is completed online. To apply, visit the ERAP website.

Before applying, please review the FAQ on the home page and create an account. (You will need an email address and password. Please remember both).

Once you have completed and submitted an application, your application will go into a queue in the order in which it was submitted. Your application will be claimed by a case worker/case manager in the order in which it was submitted. One of the seven ERAP organizations, including Catholic Charities, can claim your application.

You can login to your account on the ERAP website to check the status of your application (use the same email and password used to register). You should also watch for emails regarding the status of your application and information on your assigned case worker/case manager.

For questions, contact the ERAP Call Center hotline at 202-507-6666.