After more than three years of operation, the Doña Ana County Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) will be winding down at the year's end. The program has been a critical support for renters who've faced financial distress due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but as December 31, approaches, the ERAP will shut its doors and stop taking new applications, according to Doña Ana County.
The ERAP was fueled by a $34 million grant from early 2021, designed to help cover rent and utility bills for those hit hardest by the pandemic's economic fallout. To date, nearly $28 million of that has been distributed among 2,500 households in the county, easing the strain of lost jobs, slashed paychecks, and shuttered businesses. Nevertheless, as the county moves beyond the pandemic, there's been a notable decrease in those seeking assistance, and the grant's lifeline gradually becoming less sought-after.
To qualify for ERAP help, residents needed to demonstrate financial impact directly tied to the pandemic, a mandate that, over time, has naturally seen fewer qualifiers as the immediate effects of the health crisis have faded. With the program's end in sight, officials are now looking at the best ways to use any remaining funds. Doña Ana County plans to reallocate what's left to other initiatives aimed at housing stability, tapping into a network of community partners and sticking to the guidelines set by the grant.
"Doña Ana County’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program has been a lifeline for many during the pandemic," Board Chair Christopher Schaljo-Hernandez said, as per Doña Ana County. The county has extended its gratitude to all the partners, community organizations, and staff members who have contributed to ERAP's success, acknowledging the role of the U.S. Department of the Treasury in providing the necessary funding.
