Eviction, Rent, And Utility Payment Help is Available

The COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program (CERA) closed to NEW applications as of 9 PM June 30, 2022. As a reminder, CERA funds cannot be used for rent payments due after September 30. Whether you have received CERA funding or not, it's important to remember to pay your rent on time and in full.  Getting CERA rental assistance does not prevent future evictions. Even if you have applied for CERA funding, residents must continue to pay their rent for rent payments due after September 30. 

If you are unable to pay your rent and you missed the CERA application deadline, residents can still apply to the Wayne County Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP).

How to apply for the Wayne County Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP):

  1. Online at www.waynecounty.com/rentalassistance

  2. Or, call the Wayne County dedicated Call Center at (833)742-1513 during regular business hours.

Applicants seeking rental assistance may receive an award from only one program (either the Wayne County ERAP program or the State of Michigan CERA program. You cannot receive rental assistance from both).

Those who are seeking employment can participate in the Rapid Jobs Program through Detroit At Work. For more information on this program, visit https://cloud.jobs.detroitatwork.com/rapid-jobs.

Detroit CERA providers will continue processing rental assistance applications for those who applied before the deadline until all financial assistance funding has been spent. There may be more applications submitted than funds available, so having applied before June 30, 2022 does not guarantee that you will receive rental assistance.

CERA Applicants with Eviction Cases: 

You MUST show up to all virtual court hearings if your eviction case is in court, even if you have applied for CERA assistance, and even if you have received CERA funding. You may be invited to apply for CERA if you have an active court case, even if you didn’t apply prior to the June 30 deadline. Attorneys or CERA providers can advise on next steps and if you are eligible in court."

Check your CERA Application Status:

  • Check the status of your application by visiting https://ceraapp.michigan.gov/ and clicking “Check App Status”.
  • Once on the CERA application page, scroll down to “Check App Status” and click the link.
  • You will need to enter your date of birth, last name, and CERA #, or, if you are a landlord, that of your tenants.
  • Click “submit.”
  • You will be given a status update. The status explanation can be found on the right-hand side of the webpage, or below if you are on your phone.
  • Incomplete tenant applications will not show a status, even if you have a CERA ID #. If you have a CERA ID # and no status shows up, you need to follow the steps below and apply to Wayne County ERAP.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PRIORITIZATION OF HOUSEHOLDS

The federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program requires a prioritization of assistance for households with incomes less than 50% of area median income or households with one or more individuals that have not been employed for the 90-day period preceding the date of application. MSHDA has implemented this prioritization by reserving 70% of CERA program funds for these households as well as allowing the full 18-months of assistance. Households that are not within this priority group are only eligible for 16-months of assistance.