IMPORTANT NOTICE
APPLICATION WAITING LIST CLOSED AS OF FEBRUARY 22, 2022
Since April 2020, Arundel Community Development Services (ACDS), in partnership with the Steuart Pittman administration, community partner organizations, and State and federal funders, has provided financial rental assistance and prevented evictions for more than 3,000 county households. ACDS is honored to have worked with the community to bring relief during this unprecedented health crisis.
At this time, ACDS and our community partners are faced with managing limited funding and are closing the waiting list to new intakes. Effective February 22, 2022, funding will be prioritized for households already on the waiting list or households who have received a Sheriff’s notification to evict. All financial assistance is contingent upon funds being available at the time a household’s application is processed. Unfortunately, funding for payment of past due rent is not guaranteed, and applicants already on the waiting list are encouraged to pay their rent, if possible, and to look for other resources while waiting for their application to be processed.
FOR INFORMATION REGARDING ASSISTANCE WITH PAST DUE UTILITY BILLS, CLICK HERE: https://dhs.maryland.gov/office-of-home-energy-programs/how-do-you-apply/
IMPORTANT NEW POLICIES REGARDING ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY’S EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
The Eviction Prevention Program (EPP) provides temporary rental assistance for eligible renters whose household income has been impacted by the COVID-19 public health crisis. The Eviction Prevention Program is not a long term rental assistance program. This emergency assistance is to prevent evictions and utility turn-off, and is subject to funding availability. Assistance is available for arrears for up to a maximum of twelve (12) months’ rent per household. In some cases limited funding may be available to assist households with prospective rent or relocation. All assistance is subject household eligibility and funding availability.
ACDS has distributed all Emergency Rental Assistance Program funds made available under the Consolidated Act of December 2020 (ERAP1). In order to assist as many remaining households in need of assistance with ERAP2 funds made available through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), policy changes have been made, effective immediately. These policies may change in the future as ACDS continues to monitor the availability of funds and the level of community need.
NEW APPLICANTS ONLY – ASSISTANCE LIMITED TO ONE TIME PER HOUSEHOLD: Applications are being processed for new applicants only. Members of Anne Arundel County households that have already received emergency rental assistance from ACDS or a partner agency are not eligible for additional assistance.
12 MONTHS’ RENT IS MAXIMUM ASSISTANCE PER HOUSEHOLD: In order to assist as many households as possible, the maximum rental assistance available to each household is a total of twelve (12) months’ rent, including any prospective rent paid on behalf of the household.
PROSPECTIVE RENT: Households receiving payment for arrears are not automatically eligible for prospective rent. Prospective rent, if paid, is generally limited to one month’s rent.
CONTINUOUS PROSPECTIVE RENT TO END WITH CURRENT MONTHS COVERED: Renters who have already received one or more months of prospective rent are not eligible to renew their applications to receive additional prospective rent. However, no prospective rent already paid on a renter’s behalf is required to be returned (unless the renter has left the rental property), regardless of the number of months of prospective rent paid in the past.
SPECIAL LIMITS ON ASSISTANCE FOR LEASES BEGINNING JULY 1, 2021 OR LATER: If a renter’s lease begins on or after July 1, 2021 and the rent charged is above the Small Area Fair Market Rent for the zip code where the property is located, rental assistance will be limited to payment of three months’ arrears. If the renter owes more than three months’ in arrears, then the renter must pay off the additional amount of arrears owed in order to be eligible for emergency rental assistance. Small Area Fair Market Rent may be found by zip code on the HUD website at: https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/fmr/fmrs/FY2022_code/2022summary_sa.odn.
If you are a tenant who has submitted an application for assistance, please be patient. We understand this is a stressful time, and we are working hard to get to everyone as quickly as possible.
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Do You Have a Court Date Related to Past Due Rent or a Notice of Eviction? Help is Available!
- If you receive any notices from the sheriff with a date for scheduled eviction, notify ACDS at 410-222-3999 and contact Community Legal Services immediately at (240) 391-6370, ext. 5. You can also complete an on-line intake at: https://www.legal-trak.com/CaseManagement/OnlineInTake/OnlineInTake/3?skipPayment=true.
- If you have already applied for rental assistance, make sure all your supporting documents have been submitted so your application can be processed quickly and smoothly.
- If you receive the yellow court notice titled “Landlord’s Complaint for Failure to Pay Rent,” call Community Legal Services. CLS can provide advice and/or representation for you so that you have support through the court process.
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IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING APPLICATIONS: If you have already submitted your application and completed all the necessary steps, we will assign you to a Case Manager as soon as possible. This may take 30 days or longer. If you need assistance completing the application, require a special accommodation, or have general questions, please email info@acdsinc.org and a representative will get back to you within 24-48 hours. If you have received a “SHERIFF’S NOTICE” and have been given a specific date for eviction, please contact ACDS immediately.
NOTE TO TENANTS AND LANDLORDS: ACDS does not pay rental arrears for tenants who have already been evicted or who have already vacated their unit. However, tenants may be eligible for relocation assistance if they were evicted or had to move as a result of financial hardship related to the COVID-19 crisis.
Free Legal Assistance for Tenants Facing Eviction is Available:
Community Legal Services provides FREE LEGAL ADVICE and representation for tenants who have been sued for eviction for rent-related reasons. Find information about eligibility and how to apply here: Free Legal Assistance. Para asistencia legal: CLS Info en español.
Information for HACA Residents Facing Eviction (English and Español)
Para asistencia de ACDS en Espanol por favor llame al 410-222-7600 y selecione la opcion “3”
How the Eviction Prevention Program Works
Eligible Applicants
Rental households must demonstrate that they are:
- Anne Arundel County residents
- At least one member of the household qualified for Unemployment Insurance benefits after March 16, 2020 or experienced a reduction in income, incurred significant costs, or experienced other financial hardship due, directly or indirectly, to the COVID-19 outbreak
- Income at or below 80% AMI as defined HERE
- Do not have enough income, saving, assets or other resources to pay housing costs
- One or more members of household can demonstrate a risk of homelessness or housing instability in the form of a past due utility or rent notice, an eviction notice, unsafe or unhealthy living conditions or other evidence of such risk.
- Holds a lease or sublease of unit
Public Housing, Subsidized Housing and Housing Choice Voucher Residents
Residents residing in subsidized housing, public housing, or receiving a Housing Choice Voucher or other rental subsidy through either the Housing Commission of Anne Arundel County (HCAAC) or Housing Authority of the City of Annapolis (HACA) should first contact your management office or HCAAC/HACA agency staff to have your rent payments re-calculated based on current income.
How to Apply
Select one of the below options
- You will be asked to provide information about your household, your household income and how your household income was negatively affected by the COVID-19 crisis. Whenever possible, please provide all documentation requested. However, please do not abandon your application if you do not have a requested document! Your Case Manager may be able to assist you in obtaining the document, or there may be acceptable alternative documentation.
- Applicants who require a reasonable accommodation or assistance in completing the application may contact 410-222-7600 (dial “2”) to leave name, phone number, and email.
Required Documentation
Applicants must provide supporting documentation, including, but not limited to the following:
- Verification of household income (i.e. W-2, pay-stubs and/or tax returns, bank statements)
- Eviction notice or correspondence from landlord indicating the tenant is in arrears and amount owed
- Unpaid utility bill or utility shut-off notice
- Rental/lease agreement or sublease (at minimum front page and signature page)
- Photo identification for all adult members of household
- Evidence of loss of employment or employment income due to COVID-19
Once the Case Manager receives all documentation, they will review to determine eligibility. Please note that payments will be made directly to the landlord or utility company.
Income Limits
Applicants must have income at or below 80% of AMI, as defined by HUD and as indicated below, adjusted for household size. (total 2020 household income or multiply total current monthly household income by 12)
| Household Size | Income Limit |
| 1 | $55,950 |
| 2 | $63,950 |
| 3 | $71,950 |
| 4 | $79,900 |
| 5 | $86,300 |
| 6 | $92,700 |
| 7 | $99,100 |