Emergency Rental Assistance in Maryland

(March 7, 2022) Even as the nation’s economy continues to recover from the impact of COVID-19, rising inflation rates and ongoing effects of the pandemic are still making wallets tight for many Americans. For those in the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) population—the growing number of individuals and families who are working but are unable to afford basic necessities—the circumstances of the past two years have made making ends meet even harder, especially as rent and housing prices continue to rise.

For many Maryland residents, the need for emergency rental assistance is greater than ever before. Although United Way of the National Capital Area does not directly offer rental assistance programs, we provide access to resources that do. Below, we break down how to get rental assistance in Maryland, as well as other helpful resources for community members in need. If you’re looking for rental assistance in Washington, DC, please click here. When none are ignored, all will thrive.

How To Get Rental Assistance in Maryland

There are many organizations and programs throughout Maryland offering emergency rental assistance for community members who qualify. Here are three great places to start when looking for rental assistance:

2-1-1

2-1-1 is a free, confidential referral and information helpline number that connects callers to essential health and human services 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Nationally, 2-1-1 is to social services what 9-1-1 is to emergency services.

United Way of the National Capital Area refers thousands of callers in search of social services to 2-1-1 call centers in Maryland, as well as Washington, DC and Virginia. 2-1-1 is available in multiple languages and individuals can call the number to gain access to food, shelters, utilities, rental assistance, health care, counseling and much more in their local community. To learn more about 2-1-1, click here.

Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development

Maryland residents whose ability to pay rent has been affected by COVID-19 may be eligible for assistance with current or past-due rent payments through Maryland’s Department of Housing and Community Development Emergency Rental Assistance Program. 

The department is administering federal emergency rental funding directly to local jurisdictions through the Maryland Eviction Partnership program and to property management on behalf of tenants residing in affordable rental properties that received federal or state financing through the Assisted Housing Relief Program. 

The Assisted Housing Relief Program is available to tenants residing in multifamily rental communities that have received state funds or federal resources from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development. To be eligible, a tenant must reside in one of the communities listed here. For more information on eligibility and how to apply for assistance through this program, click here.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

For Maryland residents who can no longer afford rent where they currently reside and are looking for a new apartment, they can search for apartments using a tool provided by the U.S.  Department of Housing and Urban Development here. 

Low-income families, the elderly and persons with disabilities in Maryland can also apply for a spot in public housing for an affordable apartment by contacting a public housing agency here. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development also recommends using a Housing Choice Voucher to pay for all or part of rent, if you are eligible. Those in need can apply for a voucher here.

To find more resources on rental assistance across the National Capital Area, we encourage you to visit unitedwaynca.org/pcc for information on our annual Project Community Connect (PCC), which provides information to the public on important topics like rental assistance, meeting basic needs and more. You can find recorded videos of PCC’s 2021 workshops on YouTube here.