Sacramento Emergency Rental Assistance (SERA) Program


As of August 28th, 2024, the Sacramento Emergency Rental Assistance (SERA) program has exhausted all funds to assist households living within the City of Sacramento limits.  The SERA program will continue to assist households prioritizing those who have received an unlawful detainer and live within the Sacramento County jurisdiction (outside the City of Sacramento boundaries).


PROGRAM UPDATE

THE SERA PROGRAM WAITLIST IS CLOSED

As of December 15th, 2023, the Sacramento Emergency Rental Assistance (SERA) waitlist is closed as remaining funds are very limited.  The SERA program will prioritize assisting those with an eviction filed at the court until funds are exhausted.

If you receive an Unlawful Detainer (which has been filed with the court) please email sera@shra.org with the appropriate documentation including a call back number.  SERA staff will reach out to you via email for further information if funds are available to process your application.  If there are any remaining funds after unlawful detainer/court related applications are processed, it will be utilized to prevent households from eviction. To receive the funds, the applicants must still be residing in the rental unit.

If you have already applied for SERA funding and you received a notice from the Sacramento Superior Court advising that your landlord has filed an Unlawful Detainer case against you, it is important that you notify the court that you have a pending SERA application.  Additional information regarding court notification can be found on the Legal Services of Northern California’s website at https://lsnc.net/lsnc-eviction-defense.  Additionally, please email your Unlawful Detainer documents to sera@shra.org.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW 

THE SERA PROGRAM WAITLIST IS CLOSED

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency (SHRA), in partnership with the City and the County of Sacramento, through federal and state funding, is offering emergency rent and utilities assistance for renters living anywhere in Sacramento County who have experienced a reduction in household income or other financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Eligible applicants can receive up to 18 months of assistance for past rent and utilities owed.  Please note that for any months where utility assistance is provided, but rental assistance is not provided, such months will count against the limit of 18 months of assistance which can be received by a household.

The total assistance amount available will depend on household need.

Applicants that have received an eviction notice from their landlord will be given priority. An eviction notice must be submitted with the application in order to receive priority. These applications will be processed according to application date or court date.


ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Applicants must currently rent their home anywhere in the County of Sacramento.

To be eligible for assistance with rent and/or utilities, applicant’s gross annual income must be at or below the following 2022 low-income limits:

1 person $56,750
2 person $64,850
3 person $72,950
4 person $81,050
5 person $87,550
6 person $94,050
7 person $100,550
8 person $107,000

 

Additionally, applicants must:

  1. have at least one household member that:
  • is qualified for unemployment benefits, OR
  • has experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs, or has experienced a financial hardship during COVID-19,

AND

  1. have an unlawful detainer

 

Households that previously applied for and/or received rental assistance are eligible to apply again.

An eligible household may receive up to a total of 18 months of assistance towards past due rent and utilities, subject to the availability of funds.

 


REQUIRED DOCUMENTS FOR TENANT APPLICATION

One form of identification for the person applying

All pages of the Lease

Documentation received from landlord showing amount owed in arrears (if applying for rental assistance)

Current utility bills showing amounts owed (if applying for utility assistance)

Documentation of all current household income for past the 2 months

If you have received an eviction notice, please provide one of the following:

What documents can be used to show the landlord / tenant relationship? (more than one of these documents may be requested)


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)


TO APPLY OR RECERTIFY

THE SERA PROGRAM WAITLIST IS CLOSED 

If you receive an Unlawful Detainer (which has been filed with the court) please email sera@shra.org with the appropriate documentation including a call back number.  SERA staff will reach out to you via email for further information if funds are available to process your application.

          or CHECK YOUR STATUS HERE

  • Please DO NOT submit duplicate applications, as they will not be accepted.
  • Important Note – Some e-mail services may occasionally route an item from the SERA Program to your Spam or Junk folder, which is usually located below your Inbox in your e-mail account.  Please see the FAQ’s for tips.

Additional Renter, Financial, and Employment Resources


ANY QUESTIONS? Please contact us at: sera@shra.org or (916) 449-1266

This project is being supported in whole or in part, with federal funding (Assistance Listing Number 21.023) awarded to the City and County of Sacramento and the State of California by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.


REPORTS

Starting June 2024, SERA program reports will be provided quarterly.


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