Congress sent $25 billion to state and local governments in emergency rental assistance but less than 13% of the money made it into the hands of renters as of the end of June, according to data from the Treasury Department.
While the Emergency Rental Assistance fund passed at the end of 2020 and money from the program went to local governments early this year, some local governments are struggling to get the funds where they’re needed. The latest data shows just over $3 billion distributed so far. Congress approved an additional $20 billion for the program in March. Data on this second round of funds is not yet available.
Meanwhile, about 15% of US households could not pay rent in July, according to the US Census Household Pulse Survey. A higher proportion of Black, Hispanic, and Asian renters are unable to pay for rent; some of this population is eight or more months behind. The eviction moratorium, set by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, protects certain tenants from being evicted. It has been extended until October 3 in areas of high transmission of COVID-19.
