Connecting Landlords to COVID-19 Financial Relief

Louisiana REALTORS • April 30, 2021

Louisiana REALTORS® is actively working with Louisiana Housing Corporation to assist in connecting our members with LHC's Emergency Rental Assistance Program representatives to ultimately distribute these funds to landlords and tenants in the state. This program was funded through the federal monies to help bring financial assistance to those who are struggling to pay or collect rent as a direct result of the coronavirus.

How do I know if I'm eligible?

  • 1. Are you a landlord?

    Please note that in order to receive assistance, both landlords and tenants of a property must apply.


    To participate in the state-administered program, landlords must not evict a tenant for at least 60 days after the assistance ends and must forgive late fees, penalties, interest and court costs.  The reimbursement rate for the state-administered program is 120% of the HUD-established Fair Market Rents (FMR) for the parish in which the property is located.

  • 2. Do you live in Louisiana outside of Caddo, Calcasieu, East Baton Rouge, Jefferson, Lafayette, Orleans or St. Tammany parish?

    If you live in one of these seven parishes, you must apply directly to the program in your parish. Please see below for a link to each program's website.

  • 3. Has your tenant experienced financial hardship and/or housing instability directly or indirectly due to COVID-19?

    Financial hardship refers to:

    • Qualifying for unemployment benefits
    • Experiencing a reduction in household income
    • Having incurring significant costs

    Housing instability refers to receiving:

    • A past-due rent notice
    • A past-due utility notice
    • An eviction notice
  • 4. Does your tenant's houshold income fall below the 80% mark of the area median income limit for the parish?

    The Area Median Income Guide can be found here.

  • 5. Have you or your tenant already received funding for rental assistance?

    The state-administered Emergency Rental Assistance program and payments cannot be duplicated by any other federally funded rental assistance provided to an eligible household. If a household receives rental assistance other than the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, the assistance may only be used to pay for costs, such as the renter-paid portion of rent and utility costs, that are not paid for by the other rental assistance.  


    If any funding for outstanding rent that you have requested through the state program has been paid, reimbursed or duplicated by any other source (e.g., parish, city, federal, non-profit), then you are not eligible.

  • 6. Can you provide documentation detailing authority for your rental property, a W-9, a government-issued photo ID and a valid lease agreement?

    Documentation detailing authority for rental property means that the landlord must provide one of the following:

    • 2020 property tax statement or printout from parish tax assessor establishing property ownership
    • Deed or other legal document detailing property ownership
    • Other documentation establishing authority to rent property

    A valid lease agreement refers to either:

    • Copy of current lease (preferred) OR
    • Other documentation demonstrating a rental agreement between landlord and renter which may include copies of rental checks, money orders, ledgers, etc.
Learn More About the Program

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