City Of New Orleans COVID-19 Rental Assistance Program Effective April 1, 2020

The City of New Orleans in partnership with Total Community Action is offering rental assistance to households that have been impacted by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic. The rental assistance program which will begin on April 1, 2020, will be open to individuals whose household income has been reduced as a result of COVID-19 and that are not receiving rental assistance through other organizations. Applicants will be required to provide documentation of their hardship.

The program will begin with $500,000 which may be increased as more funding becomes available. The fund is expected to serve approximately 600 households with an average grant amount of $750 per household and is expected to last for 90 days or until such time that the funding is exhausted.

Program Guidelines

The program is designed to benefit low to moderate income households impacted by COVID-19.

Priority will be given to families with children, re-entering citizens and lower income earning households. Consideration may be given to other vulnerable populations.

Eligible tenants will have the grant paid to the landlord, directly benefitting the tenant and the landlord.

The rent must be considered current by the landlord after receipt of the grant payment.

The grant will be calculated based on the amount of rent owed and the tenant’s ability to pay a portion of the past due rent.

Applicants will be required to provide documentation of their income and eligibility which may include check stubs, bank statement and/or a letter from your employer. Alternate documentation may be considered for individuals whose income was based on cash compensation.

Funding to landlords will be limited to rental units with City of New Orleans addresses.

Examples of Impact by COVID-19 (not limited to the following)

Job loss, furlough or layoff

Reduction in hours of work or pay

Store, restaurant or office closure

The need to miss work to care for a home-bound, school age child or elderly person

To apply, residents should call the Mayor’s Office of Community Development (OCD) at 504-658-4200 to begin the intake process or apply online now.