Fairfax County is administering relief for renters experiencing a negative financial impact due to or during the COVID-19 pandemic through the Fairfax County Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) Program. Through this program, you can apply (or your landlord may apply on your behalf) to receive funds to pay delinquent rent or utility arrear payments back to March 13, 2020, and up to three months of payments into the future to maintain housing stability. The total payments may not exceed a total of 18 months of rental assistance per household. Individuals who have previously received assistance from Fairfax County may apply again through this new program.

There are two ways to access emergency rental assistance:

1. Residents experiencing financial hardship are encouraged to call Coordinated Services Planning (CSP) at 703-222-0880, TTY 711. CSP can help with linking residents to basic needs including housing payments (rent, mortgage, fees, security deposit) and utilities (electric, gas, water).
2. Landlords seeking rental assistance on behalf of their tenants can submit a Rent Assistance Request through the Landlord Portal.

The ERA Program will provide financial help on behalf of renters who meet the following criteria:

• Have a valid lease agreement in their name or other documents confirming the landlord-tenant relationship and live in the unit at time of application.

• Have a rent amount that is at or below 150% Fair Market Rent. In Fairfax County, that means the rent cannot be more than the values below the values in the “150% of FMR” line below:

• Have a gross household income at or below 80% of the area median income. In Fairfax County, that means the household income cannot be more than the values in the “Low (80%)” line below:

• Have experienced a financial hardship (directly or indirectly) due to COVID-19, including but not limited to:
  • Being laid off.
  • Place of employment has closed.
  • Reduction in hours of work.
  • Loss of spousal/child support.
  • Inability to find work due to COVID-19.
  • Having to stay home with children due to distance learning/closure of day care or school.
  • Increase in expenses due to COVID-19, such as child care, medical bills, etc.
  • Unwilling or unable to participate in previous employment due to the workplace’s high risk of severe illness from COVID-19.

*Tenants that do not meet these criteria may be eligible for other assistance programs. Have them call Coordinated Services Planning at 703-222-0880, TTY 711, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., for information.

Required documentation includes:

• Proof of income (e.g., paystubs, bank statements, letter from employer, pension).
• Valid lease or other documentation of landlord- tenant relationship.
• Rent ledger (landlord provides).
• W-9 as applicable (landlord provides).

When coordinating Rental Assistance directly with county residents, staff will:

• Work with residents to identify their needs.
• Collect required information and provide support and link to resources.
• With residents’ permission, communicate necessary information with Community Based Organizations (CBO) to address your needs.
• Request verifications to support their request via email and/or fax.
• Make eligibility determination according to program guidelines.
• Confirm landlords will participate with this program.
• Send referrals to CBO requesting payment be sent and/or additional services offered.

Fairfax County Coordinated Services Planning (through the CSP Call Center and the Landlord Portal) will determine program eligibility and then refer the eligible tenant or landlord to a designated contracted Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) which will process all financial payments on behalf of the applicant. Payments will be made directly to the landlord and/or respective utility company. The applicant will not receive direct financial assistance.   

Eligible households that qualify as very low income (less than 50% Area Median Income) and/or households in which one or more member is unemployed and has been unemployed for 90 days will be given priority. The program will process applications as they are received.  At this time, funds are available to provide financial assistance to all anticipated eligible applicants. If in administering the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, the program becomes oversubscribed and there are insufficient funds to provide financial assistance to all eligible applicants, eligible households that are very low income and/or households in which one or more member is unemployed and has been unemployed for 90 days will be flagged by CSP specialist and these referrals will be paid first.

The county will utilize the eAssist database to track eligibility and payments made on behalf of eligible households. Data will be extracted from this system to meet federal reporting requirements.