There is, however, a major lifeline still available for people struggling to pay their bills. It’s the $47 billion federal Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program, which pays back rent, future rent, utility bills, and even moving expenses for renters hit by the pandemic’s economic downturn and its aftermath. While the local programs that administer the aid have been hindered by paperwork and lack of knowledge, the government launched a new Rental Assistance Finder website on Wednesday to make it easier to get help. The new site is part of a push launched Wednesday by the White House, multiple federal agencies, and several private companies to raise awareness about the ERA, which at the end of June had distributed only $3 billion of its $47 billion allocation, according to the U.S Treasury. Have a question, comment, or story to share? You can reach Diccon at dhyatt@thebalance.com.
