ERASE ERA Assessment.xlsx


1	Visible:
2	Conduct equitable and robust marketing and outreach efforts to ensure that all landlords, low-income renters, and those already experiencing homelessness due to housing loss know about the Emergency Rental Arrears Program (ERAP) and how to access it in their community.
3	Households most in need and experiencing multiple barriers must be able to access emergency rental assistance (ERA) at the time when they need it most to prevent eviction and/or housing loss. Reaching communities with the greatest need can be challenging due to geographic isolation, language differences, mistrust of government programs, stigma, and/or inadequate access to technology. Many existing programs have adopted creative strategies to overcome these barriers. They have chosen to work with trusted community partners (often smaller nonprofit and community-based organizations with ties to communities with large populations of at-risk renters) to help with outreach, they have consulted with residents in program design and outreach, and have implemented strategies to target those most impacted and most at risk.
4	Attributes for Model Programs
5	Please indicate for each program feature if the ERA program you are working with is implementing, not implementing but interested, or not implementing and not interested in the program feature. Use the Notes column to capture any program features or information that would be helpful in understanding the assessment.
6	1	The ERA program proactively uses the following strategies to conduct outreach and provides assistance to people and neighborhoods experiencing the greatest risk, including BIPOC, immigrant populations, people with disabilities and seniors:	Implementing Fully	Not Implementing But Interested	Not Implementing Not Interested	Don’t Know	Notes:
7		a. Utilizing administrative data, through data matching and data sharing, to quickly identify and provide assertive engagement at risk households.
8		b. Use data index tools, like Urban Institute’s web-based tool, "Where to Prioritize Emergency Rental Assistance to Keep Renters in Their Homes," or the CDC Social Vulnerability Index to identify neighborhoods in which households are likely facing the greatest risks of loss of housing during the pandemic.
9		c. Dedicating a portion of the emergency rental assistance to the neighborhoods experiencing the greatest impacts and risks.
10		d. Assessing data regarding the neighborhood locations of households being served in as close to real time as possible and adjusting outreach strategies to better reach highest-risk neighborhoods, as needed.
11		e. Describe other outreach and targeting strategy to engage people and neighborhoods experiencing the greatest risk:_______________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________
12	2	ERA program currently provides ERA outreach and marketing materials...	Implementing Fully	Not Implementing But Interested	Not Implementing Not Interested	Don’t Know	Notes:
13		a. through multiple methods (door knocking, pop up clinics, community events, social media).
14		b. in multiple languages.
15		c. in ways that are accessible to people living with disabilities.
16	3	The ERA program currently contracts with trusted community-based organizations to provide the marketing and outreach to marginalized populations.
17	4	ERA program is working with the local Continuum of Care and coordinated entry system(s) to ensure resources reach households exiting homelessness or households who face the greatest risks of homelessness.
18	5	ERA program serves households with federal rent subsidies.
19	6	ERA program serves households who are currently homeless to exit homelessness.
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21	Additional Key Strategies that Promote Equity in Visibility of ERA Programs
22	ERA program being assessed is currently...		Implementing Fully	Not Implementing But Interested	Not Implementing Not Interested	Don’t Know	Notes:
23	7	The ERA program has developed strategies to ensure landlords with small portfolios of units know about and have access to ERA.
24	8	The ERA program informs public housing authorities and property managers about ERA and develops mechanisms to directly refer tenants in need to ERA.
25	9	ERA program distributes program information and/or conducts intake at critical points of intervention, such as libraries, homeless services providers, food pantries, housing counseling offices, public systems, health centers, vaccination sites, schools and others to increase knowledge about ERA and proactively target extremely low-income households.
26	10	ERA policies and program features are openly communicated on website and other outreach materials, including circumstances under which self-attestation, direct-to-tenant assistance and other flexible program features are allowed.
27	11	ERA program established “ERA Tables” in courts, where community service organizations provide applications and have staff available to assist landlords and tenants.
28	12	ERA program has developed and is regularly updating a state or local ERA Data Dashboard.
29	13	ERA program is collecting and monitoring both process and outcome data broken down by gender, age, and race/ethnicity, as well as by neighborhood or geography (ERA program is enhancing the visibility of the program by making demographic data publicly available and/or using this data to better target marginalized communities in its outreach efforts).
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31		Number of Strategies Currently Implementing


1	Accessible:
2	Support equitable access to and disbursement of financial support to landlords and tenants by ensuring an accessible, streamlined, and low-barrier ERAP application process.
3	Households most in need may have difficulty navigating lengthy applications and meeting burdensome documentation requirements in time to avoid a looming eviction. Many individuals may still face challenges in completing complex applications. State and local programs must support expedited access to and disbursement of financial support to landlords and tenants by ensuring an accessible, streamlined, and low-barrier ERAP application process. As such, the design and implementation of emergency rental assistance programs should be as simple, flexible, and accessible as possible, and the program should support progress toward racial equity and justice.
4	Attributes for Model Programs
5	Please indicate for each program feature if the ERA program you are working with is implementing, not implementing but interested, or not implementing and not interested in the program feature. Use the Notes column to capture any program features or information that would be helpful in understanding the assessment.
6	1	ERA applications are available via:	Implementing Fully	Not Implementing But Interested	Not Implementing Not Interested	Don’t Know	Notes:
7		online
8		telephone
9		mobile phone compatible
10		through 211
11		in person
12		other method(s): _________________________________________
13	2	ERA program currently provides ERA application materials...	Implementing Fully	Not Implementing But Interested	Not Implementing Not Interested	Don’t Know	Notes:
14		a. through multiple methods (door knocking, pop up clinics, community events, social media).
15		b. in multiple languages.
16		c. in ways that are accessible to people living with disabilities.
17	The ERA Program...		Implementing Fully	Not Implementing But Interested	Not Implementing Not Interested	Don’t Know	Notes:
18	3	Does not require additional documentation such as SS# that may turn people away or slow the application process.
19	4	Allows for direct to tenant assistance.
20	5	Allows tenant self-certification for:	Implementing Fully	Not Implementing But Interested	Not Implementing Not Interested	Don’t Know	Notes:
21		income
22		housing instability
23		lease
24		COVID hardship
25		other: _____________________________________________
26	6	Uses fact-based proxies, administrative data, and/or categorical eligibility for:	Implementing Fully	Not Implementing But Interested	Not Implementing Not Interested	Don’t Know	Notes:
27		income
28		COVID hardship
29		other: _____________________________________________
30	7	Provides the following forms of other housing assistance:	Implementing Fully	Not Implementing But Interested	Not Implementing Not Interested	Don’t Know	Notes:
31		hotel and motel stays
32		rental security deposits
33		application and/or screening fees
34		reasonably accrued late fees
35		internet service fees
36	8	Utilizes the maximum allowable administrative cost allowance to support capacity, staffing, infrastructure and technology to support program implementation.
37	9	Utilizes the maximum allowable housing stability services allowance to support outreach, housing navigation, case management and other services that assist households in accessing and successfully navigating the ERA application process.
38	10	Proactively follows up on incomplete applications using multiple strategies to contact tenants, such as text messages, telephone, email, and knocking on doors, to ensure a high rate of complete applications.
39	11	Offers housing navigation services to assist with housing relocation services, such as housing search and housing stabilization services.
40	12	Contracts with trusted community-based organizations to provide application assistance and housing navigation.
41	13	Makes the re-application process as simple as possible for households with ongoing needs including the continued use of self-certification.
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43	Additional Strategies to Advance Equity and Ensure a Simple, Flexible and Accessible Application Process:
44		The ERA Program...	Implementing Fully	Not Implementing But Interested	Not Implementing Not Interested	Don’t Know	Notes:
45	14	Actively solicits and adapts in response to feedback from community members, including low-income renters, and partners.
46	15	Leverages and coordinates with other local, state, federal, or philanthropic funding streams to bolster staff and technological capacity and create a continuum of support.
47	16	Collects, shares, and analyzes relevant data to support efficient use of funds and identifying needed mid-course corrections in program design.
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49		Number of Strategies Currently Implementing


1	Preventive:
2	Ensure holistic, responsive interventions at all intersection points, such as state and local courts, to prevent evictions, housing displacement and homelessness
3	ERA programs should aim to prevent eviction and housing loss for low-income and the most marginalized households. This requires providing emergency assistance, as well as addressing systemic disparities and polices that have contributed to housing instability in the first place, particularly for low-income households and Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC). States and localities should undergo activities that prevent eviction, housing displacement and homelessness by offering flexible, holistic, and preventative interventions and creating formal partnerships with state and local courts to support eviction prevention and diversion in coordination with ERAP and providing a bridge to housing stability and other community-based services and support for households with greater needs.
4	Attributes for Model Programs
5	Please indicate for each program feature/question if the ERA program you are working with is implementing, not implementing but interested, or not implementing and not interested in the program feature.
6	ERA program being assessed is currently...		Implementing Fully	Not Implementing But Interested	Not Implementing Not Interested	Don’t Know	Notes:
7	1	Utilizing ERA funding to fund legal attorneys to protect renters facing eviction.
8	2	Subcontracting with legal aid organizations and those working directly out of eviction courts to directly administer ERA funds.
9	3	Directly communicating with courts about the availability of ERA funds and developing procedures and protocols to identify and refer tenants and landlords in need.
10	4	Jurisdiction has adopted policies and procedural safeguards that ensure tenants have knowledge about potential assistance, have additional time for discovery, access to legal representation, and other measures including:	Implementing Fully	Not Implementing But Interested	Not Implementing Not Interested	Don’t Know	Notes:
11		a. Courts do not allow filings for nonpayment of rent without first applying for ERA.
12		b. Judges postpone hearing eviction cases to give renters the opportunity to apply for and receive ERA.
13		c. Landlords cannot evict tenants while tenants are in process or are receiving ERA.
14		d. Landlords receiving ERA cannot evict renters for at least 3 months after receiving assistance.
15		e. Sealing eviction records that occur during or stem from nonpayment of rent during the pandemic.
16		f. Describe other tenant protections that have been put in place in coordination with ERA: _____________________________________________________
17	5	The jurisdiction under which the ERA program is operating has passed legislation that protects tenants from eviction while they are in process or receiving ERA.
18	6	The jurisdiction under which the ERA program is operating established Right to Counsel legislation.
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20	Additional Strategies that Support Housing Stability:
21	ERA program being assessed is currently...		Implementing Fully	Not Implementing But Interested	Not Implementing Not Interested	Don’t Know	Notes:
22	7	Connecting program, processes, and resources to local Continuum of Care and coordinated entry processes, and other services systems, to align and leverage other forms of support households may need.
23	8	Providing a bridge to longer-term or intensive housing stability supports for household who have greater needs such as a history of homelessness, chronic health conditions or disabilities.
24	9	Coordinating with case management and other support services to support long term stability for tenants, including access to crisis intervention services, education programs, financial counseling, childcare, healthcare, mental health and substance use services, non-legal advocacy and other support that assist with housing stability.
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26		Number of Strategies Currently Implementing


1	Introduction
2	In response to the end of the moratorium, NLIHC is asking state partners, local jurisdictions, and Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program administrators to focus on three key areas to ensure that the local ERA program is visible, accessible, and preventive: 1. Visible: Conduct equitable and robust marketing and outreach efforts to ensure that all landlords, low-income renters, and those already experiencing homelessness due to housing loss know about the ERA program and how to access it in their community. 2. Accessible: Support equitable access to and disbursement of financial support to landlords and tenants by ensuring an accessible, streamlined, and low-barrier ERA application process. 3. Preventive: Ensure holistic, responsive interventions at all intersection points, such as state and local courts, to prevent evictions, housing displacement and homelessness. The following ERASE Pre-Tests are designed from the ERASE Checklists. They are intended to help you make a quick assessment on if your emergency rental assistance program is visible, accessible, and preventive and to offer strategies for program design and implementation, partnership development and course correction.
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4	ERASE Pre/Post Test/Assessment
5	NLIHC is asking all grantees to complete a pre-assessment to start off the work and a final assessment at the conclusion of our efforts in June.
6	The purpose of this assessment is to understand the program features each ERA program is implementing, to help guide your local system change efforts, and to track progress in ERA implmentation over the grant period.
7	The Assessment is broken into three parts: Visible, Accessible and Preventive. To the best of your ability, please indicate for each program feature/question if the ERA program you are working with is implementing, not implementing but interested, or not implementing and not interested in the program feature.
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