Get help paying rent and utilities if you’re struggling due to COVID-19.

Emergency assistance is available if you’ve lost your job or experienced financial hardship since March 13, 2020.

If you applied to get your utilities paid, we need some more information on your application. Check out this guide for details.

Public Town Halls

Learn more about the rental assistance program and how to apply at one of two town halls. Registration is not required.

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Who qualifies for Allegheny County Emergency Rental Assistance?

You can apply if you’re a renter living in a household with:

at least one person who qualifies for unemployment, has lost income, or suffered financially due to COVID-19

at least one person who is at risk of experiencing homelessness if they don’t get help

a total income below 80% of the Area Median Income for Allegheny County

Before you apply

Gather the documents you’ll need to show income and residency. While it is possible to submit your application without uploading these documents, it may cause a delay in processing.

  • Unemployment determination letter
  • Lease agreement
  • Utility bills
  • W2 forms, paystubs or award letters
  • Social security numbers for everyone in your household

How the application process works

1.
The application is only available online. If you can’t get online or need help filling it out, contact ACTION-Housing at 412-248-0021 or rentalassistance@ actionhousing.org. Drop-in centers with free WiFi and computers will also be open around the county. Some have scanners and staff to assist with technology.

2.
You must create a username and password to get into the application. To do that, you’ll need an email account. Don’t have one? Sign up for free at Google or Yahoo.

3.
Write your username and password down somewhere only you can see it. You’ll need it if you want to come back to the application to add documents, change your contact information or check the status of your application. Click here to return to the application.

4.
After you submit your application, it will move through five steps:

  • Application Review
  • Tenant Outreach – Someone will contact you if more information is needed.
  • Eligibility Determination – If you meet eligibility criteria, your application moves to the next step. If not, you will receive a written denial which you can appeal.
  • Landlord Outreach
  • Payment Processing

5.
We’ll contact you about what happens next. The person who contacts you could be from ACTION-Housing, The Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh or the YWCA of Greater Pittsburgh. We’re all working together so please answer their phone call or respond to their email.