Mayor's Office

*If your ERAP application was disqualified due to eligibility or you disagree with the amount awarded for assistance, you may choose to appeal.  Please see below for additional information.

The City of Fresno Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) provides applicants with an opportunity to contest any determinations or denials based on program policy or calculations. However, an applicant may not challenge the use of federal statutory requirements. You are eligible to appeal only after you have received a determination or denial.

When to Appeal –  An appeal application may be filed after applicant receives a determination or denial if applicant believes there is an error with:

• Program eligibility determination
• Program award and/or assistance calculation(s)

What is Required to Appeal 

Applicant must complete the ERAP Appeal Form, including the application or ERA #, property address and any supporting facts or documents to justify appeal.

How to Submit an ERAP Appeal Form? 

A completed ERAP Appeal Form and any applicable documentation may be emailed or mailed as outlined below:

• [email protected] include ERAP Appeal and Application # in subject line
• ATTN: ERAP Appeal
  City of Fresno
  2600 Fresno Street
  Fresno, CA 93721

What to Expect after ERAP Appeal Form is Submitted? 

City of Fresno staff will complete the review of ERAP Appeal Forms and make a determination within thirty (30) calendar days of receipt

• Applicants will be notified of the determination within five (5) business days of the completed review. Notification will include a brief statement of the reasons for the final determination
• Appeals may be denied or approved in whole or in part after a thorough review of the circumstance, documentation and justification of facts All determinations will be based on funding availability at the time of review

Incomplete ERAP Appeal Forms? 

• Appellant will be notified within 15 days if the ERAP Appeal Form is incomplete.  Incomplete Appeal Forms will not be processed
• If not completed by appellant within 30 days of notice by City of Fresno staff, ERAP Appeal Forms will be determined incomplete and closed

How To File an Appeal 

• To submit an appeal, complete the appeal form on the following page and send it electronically to [email protected] with “ERAP Appeal_{ERA Application Number}” in the subject line. If you do not have access to email, there is a mailing address at the end of this form to send the appeal letter.

Appeal Review 

• Appeals will be reviewed by a City of Fresno staff member that did not make the original determination. If the appeal is reviewed and the original determination will not be changed, a manager will review before the final determination is made

ERAP Appeal form – Fillable

Please submit appeals via email electronically to: [email protected]

Subject Line – “ERAP Appeal_{Application Number}”

If needed, Written appeals can be mailed to:

City of Fresno
Attn: ERAP Appeal
Grants Management Unit
2600 Fresno Street
Fresno, CA 93721

WHAT KIND OF ASSISTANCE IS COVERED?

UNPAID RENT (PAST DUE)

Landlords who participate in the Emergency Rental Assistance Program can get reimbursed for an eligible renter’s unpaid rent dating back to April 1, 2020.

Eligible renters whose landlords choose not to participate in the program may apply on their own and receive assistance for unpaid rent dating back to April 1, 2020. The tenant must remit payment to the landlord within 15 business days or face a penalty.

PROSPECTIVE RENT (FUTURE)

Eligible renters can receive prospective rent in increments of up to three months.

UTILITY ASSISTANCE (UNPAID)

Eligible renters may also receive assistance for 100% of unpaid utility bills dating back to April 1, 2020, paid directly to the utility provider.  Utilities that are covered by the landlord, will be treated as rent.

An applicant is limited to 18 months of rental and/or utility assistance dating back to April 1, 2020.  Assistance can be all rental arrears or a combination of rental arrears, utility arrears, and prospective rent.

PRIORITIES FOR FUNDING

• Priority 1 – Past-due rent for applicants below 50% Area Median Income (AMI)
• Priority 2 – Past-due rent for applicants between 51% and 80% AMI
• Priority 3 – Prospective Rent
• Priority 4 – Utilities

RESIDENTIAL TENANTS

ELIGIBILITY – Eligibility of residential tenants is determined based on the following criteria:

1. Rental Property Location: Rental property must be located in the City of Fresno.  Properties in county islands must apply with the County of Fresno.

2. COVID-19 Impact: One or more individuals within the household experienced other financial hardship during or due, directly or indirectly, to COVID-19 or demonstrate a risk or homelessness or housing instability or household is a low-income family

3. Rent/Utility Bills: Tenant must document that they are past-due on payments for rent and/or utilities, or need help with future rental assistance

4. Income-Eligible: Tenant/household is income-eligible at no more than 80% of AMI (refer to Fresno County Area Median Income table) or participate in a low-income verified local, state or federal program (ex. Medi-Cal, SNAP, WIC, etc.)

• Income-eligible applicants may qualify regardless of immigration status and will not be required to show proof of citizenship.

DOCUMENTATION – Tenant must complete the tenant portion of the application.  A tenant can apply without the participation of a landlord, however, collaboration between tenant and landlord is strongly encouraged.  Several documents are needed to complete the application process, including:

1. Identity verification

• A form of government-issued ID (birth certificate or Driver’s license)
• Foreign ID documents (passports or driver ID’s)
• Employment ID
• Certificate of marriage or license
• Certified copy of divorce decree
• Public Assistance participation documentation
• A tax return or other tax documents

2. COVID-19 Impact/Financial Hardship

• A COVID-19 Impact Affidavit – Affidavit can be located and uploaded through the application platform
• 3-day Notice of Eviction
• Pay Rent or Quit Notice
• Other notice of non-payment of rent
• Household qualifies for unemployment benefits or experienced a reduction in household income

3. Rent/Utility Bills:

• Current Lease/Rental Agreement
• Rent due statement or ledger
• Rental Affidavit – Affidavit can be located and uploaded through the application platform
• Examples include invoices, past due statements, notices or lease documents

4. Utility Affidavit identifying account information signed by Tenant (if applying for utility assistance).  – Affidavit can be located and uploaded through the application platform.

5. Tenant Self Certification (located within application)

6. Income-Eligibility:

• Proof of current participation in state or federal subsidy programs such as CalFresh, WIC, or CalWORKS, Medi-Cal, SNAP if applicable – acceptance or renewal letters preferred (if provided, no additional documentation is required to demonstrate income-eligibility)
• Current Tax Return
• Recent paycheck stubs (consecutive: six for weekly pay, three for bi-weekly or semimonthly pay, two for monthly pay)
• Current W-2 and/or 1099G
• Zero Income Affidavit (if applicable) – Affidavit can be located and uploaded through the application platform

LANDLORDS

ELIGIBILITY – Eligibility of landlord applicants is determined based on the following criteria:

1. Rental property must be located within the City of Fresno. Properties in county islands must apply with the County of Fresno.
2. Rent/Utility Bills:  Landlords can document that tenant is past-due on payments for rent and/or utilities, or need help with future rental assistance

DOCUMENTATION – Landlord must complete the landlord portion of the ERAP application.  Additionally, for the landlord application to be considered complete, the tenant must participate fully, including completing the tenant portion of the application and providing tenant required documentation.  Several documents are needed to complete the application process, including but not limited to:

1. Identity verification

• W-9 (for tax purposes)

2. Rent/Utility Bills:

• Current Lease/Rental Agreement
• Rent due statement or ledger; or
• Rental Affidavit – Affidavit can be located and uploaded through the application platform

3. Landlord Self-Certification (located within application)

For additional information regarding the City of Fresno’s Eviction Protection Program please click on the link below.

Eviction Protection Program

Call – (559) 621-8400