Sacramento Emergency Rental Assistance (SERA2) Program
APPLICATION PERIOD REMAINS OPEN!
Go HERE to view the flyers for this program.
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 15-18 months of assistance for past rent and utilities owed. 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.
ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE
If you’ve 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.
If you’ve 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.
Please click HERE for additional resources.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Applicants must currently rent their home anywhere in the County of Sacramento.
To be eligible for assistance with rent and/or utilities, you must have 2021 household gross annual income at or below the following low-income limits:
| 1 person | $50,750 |
| 2 person | $58,000 |
| 3 person | $65,250 |
| 4 person | $72,500 |
| 5 person | $78,300 |
| 6 person | $84,100 |
| 7 person | $89,900 |
| 8 person | $95,700 |
Additionally, applicants must:
- 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 due to COVID-19
- 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 15 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.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS FOR TENANT APPLICATION
One form of identification for the person applying
Driver’s license
California ID
Passport
Birth certificate
Marriage License
Divorce Decree
All pages of your Lease or other proof that you are renting your home
Document received from landlord showing amount owed in arrears
This could be either a past due notice or a Statement of Rental Arrears
Current utility bills showing amounts owed
SMUD
PG&E
Water
Sewer
Trash
Internet
Documentation of all current household income for past 2 months
Paystubs
Benefit letters from SSI, SSA,
Unemployment/EDD Insurance Award Notice
Other
If you have received an eviction notice, please provide one of the following:
Pay or quit notice
Unlawful detainer notice
Notice to vacate
Other eviction notice from the landlord
What documents can be used to show the landlord / tenant relationship? (one or more of these documents may be requested)
A signed lease
A rental verification form signed by both the landlord and the tenant
Bank statements showing the tenant’s withdrawals and the landlord’s deposit of funds for rent and a self-attestation
Copies of cashed checks, or money order receipts
Tax documents
Verification of payment prior to assistance being requested
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
TO APPLY OR RECERTIFY
Please DO NOT submit duplicate applications, as they will not be accepted.
If you have applied in February or March 2021, please click the “check your status here” button below. All applications that have been submitted prior to March 19th, 2021 are currently under review.
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.