PROGRAM UPDATE

The SERA program is now closed for new, re-certifying, and re-applying applicants living in the City of Sacramento due to a lack of funding.  For more information, go to the FAQs page.

Applicants living outside the City of Sacramento but residing within the County of Sacramento may still apply for rental assistance from the SERA Program.

Priority will be given to County applicants who have received an eviction notice that has been filed with the court and have met the SERA program eligibility requirements.

If you have already applied for SERA funding and you receive a notice from the Sacramento Superior Court advising that your landlord has filed an Unlawful Detainer case against you, it’s important that you notify the court if you have a pending SERA application. Legal Services of Northern California has additional information about how to notify the court. Please visit https://lsnc.net/lsnc-eviction-defense for that information. You should also notify the SERA program of the Unlawful Detainer notice by emailing it to sera@shra.org.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW 

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency (SHRA), in partnership with the City and the County of Sacramento, through federal and state funding, is offering emergency rent and utilities assistance for renters living anywhere in Sacramento County who have experienced a reduction in household income or other financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Eligible applicants can receive up to 18 months of assistance for past rent and utilities owed.  Please note that for any months where utility assistance is provided, but rental assistance is not provided, such months will count against the limit of 18 months of assistance which can be received by a household.

The total assistance amount available will depend on household need.

Applicants that have received an eviction notice from their landlord will be given priority. An eviction notice must be submitted with the application in order to receive priority. These applications will be processed according to application date or court date.

Go HERE to view the flyers for this program.

WHEN TO UPDATE YOUR APPLICATION

• If you have received an unlawful detainer notice, eviction notice, or a pay or quit notice:
  • Go to step 3 of your application and update the question which reads, “Have you received a notice regarding potential eviction such as: 3 Day Pay or Quit, 15 Day Pay or Quit, 30 Day Notice, Warning Notice, or Unlawful Detainer, etc.?” Follow the instructions and update Step 5, as requested.
• If you experience a change in income.
• A change in contact information, family composition, amounts owed or any other significant portion of your application.

To update your application – Scroll down to the section below entitled “APPLY OR CHECK YOUR STATUS” and log in to your account.  You may wish to review all of your responses to ensure that nothing has changed.

ADDITIONAL RENT ASSISTANCE

If you have already been assisted through SERA and still need help paying past due rent and utilities, you must recertify your information. Please login to your account and answer the questions. Your recertification will be reviewed to determine if you are eligible to receive additional assistance.  (Please note – the program cannot exceed the 18 month limit for assistance). 

If you have already been determined ineligible, you can login into your account and edit your application and submit it. The updated application will be reviewed to determine if you are now eligible to receive assistance.

For additional resources for utility and other assistance click HERE .

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Applicants must currently rent their home anywhere in the County of Sacramento.

To be eligible for assistance with rent and/or utilities, applicant’s gross annual income must be at or below the following 2022 low-income limits:

Additionally, applicants must:

1. have at least one household member that:

• is qualified for unemployment benefits, OR
• has experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs, or has experienced a financial hardship during COVID-19,

AND

2. demonstrate housing instability or a risk of being unhoused.

Households that previously applied for and/or received rental assistance are eligible to apply again.

An eligible household may receive up to a total of 18 months of assistance towards past due rent and utilities, subject to the availability of funds.

Priority will be given to households that owe rental arrears.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

TO APPLY OR RECERTIFY

Please DO NOT submit duplicate applications, as they will not be accepted.

Need Help? Click here for a list of local organizations ready to help you complete your application and upload documents.

APPLY OR RECERTIFY HERE

          or CHECK YOUR STATUS HERE

• Important Note – Some e-mail services may occasionally route an item from the SERA Program to your Spam or Junk folder, which is usually located below your Inbox in your e-mail account.  Please see the FAQ’s for tips.

Additional Renter, Financial, and Employment Resources

ANY QUESTIONS? Please contact us at: sera@shra.org or (916) 449-1266

This project is being supported in whole or in part, with federal funding (Assistance Listing Number 21.023) awarded to the City and County of Sacramento and the State of California by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

REPORTS