Impact Evaluation of the Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) Program

The objective of this NOFO is to fund rigorous evaluations of the impact of the Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) Program on housing stability outcomes. HUD’s primary outcome of interest is eviction, but applicants can propose other housing stability measures. Congress established the ERA program to provide emergency assistance for rental, utility, and other related expenses to households at risk of losing their rental units due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The program is administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. A total of $46 billion was allocated thought the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021, enacted in December 2020 (ERA1) and the American Rescue Plan enacted in March 2021 (ERA2). The research funded under this NOFO will advance scientific knowledge and produce policy-relevant evidence on the impact of ERA on evictions and may inform the development of future approaches to helping families maintain housing stability and avoid eviction.