CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Are you struggling financially? More Wyoming households, including those homeless or without a current residence, may be eligible for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) with the recent opening up of additional federal dollars.

Wyoming has received federal funding to help eligible Wyoming households struggling to make rent and/or utility payments during the COVID-19 pandemic. Community based organizations located in every county are ready to help eligible households get the assistance they deserve.  For additional ERAP support, the call center’s toll-free phone number is 1-877-WYO-ERAP. Visit the website dfs.wyo.gov/erap for more information and to apply.

Recent changes include expanding the maximum assistance allotment per household from 15 months to 18 months. Additionally, renters will be eligible for assistance if their financial hardship occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ERAP funding is also now open to Wyoming households that are homeless or without a current residence and do not have a lease/rental agreement. This may include those living at a homeless shelter, living with friends or family, couch surfing, living doubled-up, etc.  Applicants will need to complete the online application, submitting all required documents with the exception of a lease agreement and go through eligibility determination. If deemed eligible, the applicant will receive a letter of intent to show prospective landlords what the applicant is eligible for: security deposit, first three months of rent and potential additional rental assistance up to a total of 18 months. Once a lease agreement is signed, the program will make payment.

As of December 1, ERAP has approved a total of 4,736 applications, paying a total of $12.5M in assistance. Of the rental payments, $9.7M went to landlords, $1.9M to renters and $778K to utilities. To see county specific information, click here to see the map.

ERAP eligibility requirements include:

• Being a renter in Wyoming or having unpaid rent on a previous Wyoming residence
• Having a household income of less than 80% of the area’s median income
• Qualifying for unemployment benefits or being able to show direct or indirect financial loss because of COVID-19 or being able to show that financial loss occurred during the COVID pandemic
• Being at risk of losing housing

ABOUT ERAP

The Wyoming Department of Family Services, with assistance from the Department of Workforce Services, is administering the state’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP), a U.S. Treasury initiative passed through the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 and expanded by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Wyoming received $352 million in federal funding to help eligible Wyoming renters struggling to make rent and/or utility payments due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Learn more at dfs.wyo.gov/erap.

ERAP RESOURCES

• ONLINE: Learn more about ERAP online at dfs.wyo.gov/erap.
• IN PERSON: If you need assistance with an application, there are community based organizations set up in each county to provide help. (Click here for an updated list)
• VIA PHONE: The call center is open 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. The toll-free number is 1-877-WYO-ERAP (1-877-996-3727).
• FLYER: Download the ERAP flyer to learn more about the program and to share with those who may be interested in the program. Download here

Questions?

PROGRAM QUESTIONS

If you have any questions, please email to RentalAssistance@wyo.gov.

MEDIA INQUIRIES ONLY CONTACT: 

Rachel Girt,  ERAP Communications Contractor
Rachel@girtcommunications.com | 307.286.1592