Residential rental property owners can begin to work with renters to collect past due rent thanks to a program administered by the City of Fayetteville and Cumberland County.

More than $10 million has been allocated to the city and county to fund the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, which launched on Tuesday.

Property owners have been encouraged to work with renters to register for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program or RAP, which is part of the American Rescue Plan funded by the U.S. Department of Treasury.

“COVID-19 changed our lives and people are trying to survive financial struggles brought on by the pandemic,” said Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin. “Eviction and foreclosure moratoriums are ending. This program can help our residents stay afloat. We encourage landlords to work with tenants who may be behind on rent to apply for this assistance program.”

According to the City of Fayetteville, the goal of the plan is to distribute money received through the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 to eligible residents who are unable to pay rent and utilities due to economic constraints from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Funds allocated to the city and county total $10,119,409. The program will operate through Dec. 31, 2021, or until all available money is disbursed, whichever comes first, according to details on the city’s website.

A statement from the City of Fayetteville Tuesday said funds from the program can be used toward current and past due rent as well as current and past due utilities, internet and home energy costs dated no earlier than March 13, 2020. 

To be eligible, applicants must meet the following criteria:

1.  
2. Resident of the City of Fayetteville or Cumberland County.
3.  
4. Between March 13, 2020 and the present, one or more individuals within the household qualified for unemployment benefits or experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs, or experienced other financial hardship due, directly or indirectly, to the COVID-19 pandemic;
5.  
6. One or more individuals within the household can demonstrate a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability; and
7.  
8. Household income is at or below 80 percent of the Area Median Income (Please note that households with an income at or below 50 percent will be prioritized during the first 30 days of the program to ensure funding is made available to our most vulnerable populations)

How to calculate eligibility:  

80% of Area Median Income in Cumberland County

Household Size, 80% of Area Median Income

1, $33,400

2, $38,200 

3, $42,950 

4, $47,700 

5, $51,500 

6, $55,350 

7, $59,150 

8, $63,000 

Household Size 50% of Area Median Income 

1, $20,900 

2, $23,850 

3, $26,850 

4, $29,800 

5, $32,200 

6, $34,600 

7, $37,000 

8, $39,350 

Applicants can apply once to receive assistance. More information can be found at the web address above or by calling 888-495-7710. Hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Saturday.