Applications for D.C.’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) reopened in November to high demand, as residents lined up for the chance to get help. Though the program closed applications in just a few hours, a late-game city budget update could give some tenants newfound hope.
On Dec. 24, D.C.’s Chief Financial Officer Glen Lee announced a $51 million budget increase for the current fiscal year, due to the District bringing in more tax revenue than expected, the Washington Post first reported. Large portions of the money are intended to target housing assistance programs, including a $10 million increase towards the Housing Production Trust Fund. ERAP, a city program that aims to support low-income residents in covering rent during housing emergencies, gained nearly $3 million.
This additional allocation brings ERAP’s budget for this year to $11.5 million, which is record low funding for the program since the pandemic. ERAP’s original $8.6 million budget signified a 68% drop in funding from the previous year. When creating the District’s 2026 budget, the D.C. Council wanted to increase ERAP’s funding, but ended up placing the program on a “contingency list” due to budget constraints. This list, which included other programs like the D.C. Health Care Alliance, would be the first to receive funding if extra revenue was located, leading to the program’s recent budget boost
ERAP has consistently shown high levels of need, with D.C. residents this fall standing in lines wrapping around the Virginia Williams Family Resource Center to fill out an application for the program.
Over the last year, ERAP has tightened its application process. The aid, according to statements from D.C. Department of Human Services (DHS) Director Rachel Pierre, is intended for homelessness prevention in emergency circumstances only. This clarification is part of a wider change to ERAP’s application process, which in November switched from an online portal system to in-person appointments. This year, residents had to make an appointment with the program to ensure eligibility.
Budget challenges, in combination with ERAP’s change in application process, resulted in frustrating experiences for many D.C. residents when the program reopened this fall. The Nov. 19 reopening left those seeking rent support stuck in extended in-person waits or on unreliable phone lines. The program stopped taking applications within the day after staff scheduled more than 1,000 appointments.
ERAP is currently on an appointment pause, but the new funds might allow DHS, which runs the program, to reopen applications, though the agency has not yet confirmed its plans. Information on the status of ERAP’s application process can be found on the ERAP website, at erap.dhs.dc.gov.
