Since the program’s inception in February 2021, the DES Emergency Rental and Utility Assistance has assisted more than 26,600 households statewide avoid eviction, furthering Governor Ducey’s mission to support Arizonans in need and ensure residents and families are able to remain in their homes.
“The latest numbers are further proof of what can happen when we work together to find resourceful solutions for our residents,” said Governor Ducey. “Arizonans renters deserve the support they need. Thank you to Director Wisehart for the incredible integration and implementation of this successful program.”
To date, $171 million has been distributed to assist Arizona households. The State will continue to use all of its Emergency Rental Assistance funding from the U.S. Treasury to further support renters and increase housing stability. Based on current utilization, ERAP funding is expected to be fully expended by Fall 2023.
The critical need for rental and utility assistance remains, as households continue to face evictions statewide. DES receives approximately 1,800 rent and utility assistance applications each week, of which 900 are from new households. With rising energy prices and high rates of inflation for essentials like rent, gasoline and food, I’m pleased our program has been able to help so many families remain in their homes, and we will continue to deliver this critical assistance to those who face housing insecurity.
Since February 2021, DES has served renters in all counties except Maricopa, Pima and Yuma through the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) as the larger counties and cities received their own federal funding from the U.S. Treasury to administer local programs. The Department has supported renters in Maricopa and Pima Counties by voluntarily reallocating $179 million to local governments enabling them to continue to support their own communities. In February 2022, DES partnered with the City of Phoenix to expand access to City of Phoenix residents, providing ease of use through the DES online portal and combining staffing resources to address the significant need in Phoenix. To date, approximately 3,900 households in Phoenix received assistance through the expansion, and in September 2022, more than two-thirds of all new ERAP applications were submitted by Phoenix households.
In addition to rental assistance, DES expanded utility assistance through ERAP to all Arizona counties in June 2021.
By the Numbers:
- Over $115 million through the Emergency Rental Assistance Program
- Nearly $28 million through the Utility-Only Program
- Approximately $28 million through the Bulk Utilities Pilot
- $179 million or 37% of DES funding voluntarily reallocated to other Arizona grantees; with an additional $15 million reallocation pending
While DES primarily serves rural Arizona, we have had many opportunities to leverage our funding to help the more populous cities and counties. With our reallocations, we can invest in more communities and provide more residents with this critical assistance. We are grateful to our ERAP partners, as well as the organizations and advocates who have helped promote this program to families who can benefit from it. Households in need of assistance can visit des.az.gov/ERAP to learn more and apply.
Michael Wisehart