When the Nebraska Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program first launched in September 2023, landlord Andy Marsh drove to see one of his tenants, a single father working three jobs as his young daughter fought pediatric brain cancer.
Marsh, owner of Keystone Properties, which manages about 650 properties in the Grand Island and Hastings area, knew the father was working 100-hour weeks while driving twice a week to Omaha to seek medical care for his daughter. Costly medical bills were piling up. He was behind on bills.
“When my tenants have been approved for assistance — it’s tears, it’s bear hugs,” Marsh said. “These are hard-working Nebraskans going through a tough time, and without the burden of past-due rent, they’ve been able to take care of medical bills, get their cars fixed or get caught up on childcare bills. In turn, landlords like myself are getting caught up. It’s been a snowball effect for our economy.”
Since launching in September 2023, the ERA program has obligated more than $20 million, providing financial assistance to thousands of qualified, pandemic-impacted Nebraskans for past-due and future rent payments and past-due utility and internet payments, according to the Nebraska Investment Finance Authority (NIFA), which manages the program.
Assistance funds remain available but are being distributed quickly. Anyone in need of assistance should apply now. Nearly half of the $48 million program, available in the 91 counties outside of Douglas and Lancaster, has been distributed. Once 75% of the funds are obligated, the remaining funds will be used for the development of affordable housing.
Since launch, application processing times have improved as a result of portal and system updates to streamline the flow of applications. Continuous staff training and a decrease in the number of submitted applications following an initial surge in the opening months has also impacted processing times.
“The steps we’ve taken to improve application processing times reflects our commitment to getting this assistance to those who need it,” said Shannon Harner, executive director of NIFA. “We appreciate the patience and diligence of applicants and landlords and look forward to continuing to provide relief and stability to qualified Nebraskans.”
To qualify for assistance, applicants must have experienced a financial hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic; must have an income at or below 80% of the area median income; must rent their primary place of residence in Nebraska; and must be a legal resident. Renters in Douglas and Lancaster counties are not eligible, as residents of those counties have separate assistance programs.
Funds will be distributed while available, and they do not need to be paid back. The application and more information about eligibility requirements can be found at NebraskaRentHelp.org or by clicking here.