Emergency Rent & Utility Assistance Instructions and Information

Thank you for your interest in the Dauphin County Emergency Rent and Utility Assistance Program.  Dauphin County has launched new software for the Emergency Rental and Utility Assistance Program also known as ERAP (Rent Relief by Yardi). 

The application process is currently paused at this time for new applications and reapplications.

IF you are a landlord or property manager seeking information about applicants, please log on to dauphincounty.rentrelief.com to sign into your account. No matter how many properties you are responsible for, the fastest way to gain information about the households that have applied for ERAP is through dauphincounty.rentrelief.com.

Please note:  There is a help center on the upper right side which can guide you through the proper set up including having multiple users of your property management organization (Landlord Registration & User Setup) access the information as well as uploading documents and linking each property you rent.

IF you are a tenant/applicant seeking information on an existing application, please visit  dauphincounty.rentrelief.com to login to your account and view your application status.  

Please note: There is a help center in the upper right side of portal that can guide you, and if you have any questions, you can contact 211 to assist Monday through Friday from 8 am to 8 pm.

Eligibility Criteria for ERAP 1

  1. Qualify for unemployment benefits OR experienced a reduction in income, incurred significant costs, or experienced other financial hardship due directly or indirectly to COVID-19 that threaten the household’s ability to pay the costs of the rental property when due; AND
  2. Demonstrate a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability, which may include past due rent and utility notices and eviction notices; AND
  3. Must be at 80% Area Median Income or below.

Eligibility Criteria for ERAP 2

  1. Qualify for unemployment benefits OR experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs, or experienced other financial hardship during or due, directly or indirectly, to the coronavirus pandemic; AND
  2. Demonstrate a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability, which may include past due rent and utility notices and eviction notices; AND
  3. The household is defined as a low-income family (as such term is defined in section 3(b) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437a(b))).

Area Median Income (AMI)

As previously stated, applicants must be at or below 80% AMI. Income eligibility is determined based on 2020 annual gross income or current monthly gross income for the total household. Acceptable forms of income can include but are not limited to wages/pay stubs, 2020 tax returns for annual income, business income, social security or pensions, interest on savings accounts, TANF (welfare/cash assistance), unemployment benefits and any other periodic payments such as child support or gifts from any source.

If an applicant provides 2020 annual income, the following AMI table is used to determine income eligibility.

FY 2020 Income Limits Category
Harrisburg-Carlisle Region

1
Person

2
Persons

3
Persons

4
Persons

5
Persons

6
Persons

7
Persons

8
Persons

Extremely Low (30%) Income Limits

17,850

20,400

22,950

26,200

30,680

35,160

39,640

44,120

Very Low (50%) Income Limits

29,750

34,000

38,250

42,500

45,900

49,300

52,700

56,100

Low (80%) Income Limits

47,600

54,400

61,200

68,000

73,450

78,900

84,350

89,800

If an applicant provides current monthly income, the following AMI table is used to determine income eligibility. (*current monthly income is annualized to compared to the AMI table*)

FY 2023 Income Limits Category
Harrisburg-Carlisle Region

1
Person

2
Persons

3
Persons

4
Persons

5
Persons

6
Persons

7
Persons

8
Persons

Extremely Low (30%) Income Limits

21,000

24,000

27,000

30,000

35,140

40,280

45,420

50,560

Very Low (50%) Income Limits

34,950

39,950

44,950

49,900

53,900

57,900

61,900

65,900

Low (80%) Income Limits

55,900

63,900

71,900

79,850

86,250

92,650

99,050

105,450

Number of People in Household
The number of people in your household includes all adults in the rental unit, whether listed on your lease or not, all children living in the rental more than 50% of the time, and any foster children or adults. Do not include live-in aids. Do not include unborn children.

Prioritization
Please be aware that this is a first come, first serve process, prioritized based on a few regulatory factors including income and period of unemployment. Prioritization is given to first time applicants with household income under 50% of the area median income (AMI).  The County and its providers will continue to review applications as long as funds are available and will consider households between 51% and 80% AMI, as funds allow.

 

Eviction Mediation
It is important to create a line of communication with the landlord or utility provider that you owe arrears to. If this line of communication has been severed, a case manager that will reach out to you will help you with that communication. If you are continuing to struggle, please call the Eviction Mediation Facilitator, Michele Chilton, at the Neighborhood Dispute Settlement at 717-233-8255.

Questions and Support
If you need support in understanding or accessing your existing application, you can contact 2-1-1 for assistance or to be scheduled for an appointment with one of our providers.  Please note that Dauphin County is NOT accepting new applications or reapplications at this time.

If you have any questions, please call 2-1-1 (8AM – 8PM, M-F) or email rentutilityassist@dauphincounty.gov.  

If you are facing inevitable eviction within the next 14 days, we encourage you to contact the HELP office of Christian Churches United.  They may be able to assist you with other programs more quickly.  That number is (717) 238-2851.


Other ERAP Resources

Dauphin County Emergency Rental Assistance Appeals and Fair Hearing Policy (English)

Appeal Request Form (English)

Dauphin County Emergency Rental Assistance Appeals and Fair Hearing Policy (Spanish)

Appeal Request Form (Spanish)

ERAP Flyer