Next Emergency Rental Assistance Community Event Scheduled Sept. 21

The Mayor’s Office of Housing Policy and Community Development is now accepting applications for utility assistance payments as a part of the Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program funded by The U.S. Department of Treasury. 

The City will disburse up to $5 million to eligible tenants in Orleans Parish with past-due utility bills due to the COVID-19 pandemic.   

The ERA program was implemented to assist renters coping with financial challenges due to loss of wages during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program provides eligible households with rental and utility assistance that will help families avoid evictions or loss of utility services, which could lead to displacement.   

Tenants who have applied for ERA program are encouraged to apply for utility assistance using the following link: Community Development – Utility Assistance Program – City of New Orleans (nola.gov), or in person at the next scheduled community-based rental assistance event scheduled to take place from Tuesday, Sept. 21 thru Thursday, Sept. 23 from 9 a.m.  to 3 p.m. at Joe Brown Park (5601 Read Blvd.). 

City employees will be onsite to provide updates and review documentation for rental and utility assistance.  Residents eligible for utility assistance must meet the following criteria: Applied and determined eligible for the New Orleans Emergency Rental Program Completed the utility assistance application and certification online or in-person Have past due utility bills from no earlier than March 13, 2021.

Please arrive with a form of identification; proof of address and current income; and documentation evidencing the amount of owed back due rent. Translators and legal assistance will be available. Social distancing and masks will be required.  

The program will remain active while funding is available and is expected to serve 9,000-10,000 households with an estimated past due utility amount of $500 or less. Payments will be made directly to the utility provider. 

We Are Proud to Have Served Our Community for 38 Years. Standing Up, Speaking Out, and Providing a Trusted Voice. We Look Forward to 38 More!