Documents you will need to apply:

Important Notice

As of December 17, the St. Joseph County Emergency Rental Assistance Program is decreasing its documentation requirement for program eligibility.

The following list of documentation is still required:

Valid lease or rental agreement in the name of the applicant (can be provided by applicant or landlord) 

Current rental payment ledger (can be provided by applicant or landlord)

A scan of Proof of Identity (i.e., driver’s license, state identification card, military ID, passport, or other forms of government-issued identification) for all adults listed on the lease/rental agreement

Copy of your most recent utility bill(s) (if you are requesting utility assistance)

Proof of household income (prior years taxes, 2020 IRS Form 1040, 2020 IRS Form W-2, pay stubs, unemployment benefits, benefits determination letter (SNAP/HIP/SSI/LIHEAP/etc)

To qualify for the program an applicant still must prove significant financial impact to your household and risk of homelessness due to COVID-19. Embedded in the application is a downloadable PDF that must be filled out and signed by the applicant to comply with this program requirement.

Need additional assistance applying for ERA? Contact agencies below for potential walk-in and appointment hours or phone support.

An applicant for ERA assistance of any kind (rental, utilities, other expenses (hotel/motel) whose application is deemed ineligible by a Partner Agency may appeal the determination as follows.  Failure to adhere to this appeal process shall result in a waiver of appeal rights. 

• Within thirty (30) days of receipt of an ineligibility determination, the applicant may submit a dispute of this determination in writing to the Partner Agency.  The dispute must state the reasons the applicant believes they should not have been denied. 
  • If the employee determines that the applicant is eligible and the initial determination was in error, the application shall be re-processed as eligible and assistance provided. 
    • If the highest ranking employee after this review determines the initial determination was correct, the applicant shall be informed of this fact in writing. 
• Within thirty (30) days of receiving a negative determination from the review above, the applicant may submit a dispute of this determination in writing to the ERA Administrator at St. Joseph County, Indiana.  The dispute must state the reasons the applicant believes they should not have been denied. 
  • Within ten (10) days of receiving a dispute in writing, the ERA Administrator and County ERA Working Group shall review the applicant’s dispute and application with associated documentation for eligibility under this Policy Manual and applicable law and guidance.  If the ERA Administrator and Working Group determine that the applicant is eligible and the initial determination was in error, the application shall be re-processed as eligible and assistance provided. 
    • A negative determination at this level is considered final and no further appeal is available. 

Address to file an appeal: