Applications for D.C.’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) reopened in November to high demand, as residents lined up for the chance to get help. Though the program closed applications in just a few hours, a late-game city budget update could give some tenants newfound hope.
On Dec. 24, D.C.’s Chief Financial Officer Glen Lee announced a $51 million budget increase for the current fiscal year, due to the District bringing in more tax revenue than expected, the Washington Post first reported. Large portions of the money are intended to target housing assistance programs, including a $10 million increase towards the Housing Production Trust Fund. ERAP, a city program that aims to support low-income residents in covering rent during housing emergencies, gained nearly $3 million.
This additional allocation brings ERAP’s budget for this year to $11.5 million, which is record low funding for the program since the pandemic. ERAP’s original $8.6 million budget signified a 68% drop in funding from the previous year. When creating the District’s 2026 budget, the D.C. Council wanted to increase ERAP’s funding, but ended up placing the program on a “contingency list” due to budget constraints. This list, which included other programs like the D.C. Health Care Alliance, would be the first to receive funding if extra revenue was located, leading to the program’s recent budget boost…