Program Overview

Program Overview

In accordance with the Consolidated Appropriation Act of 2021, the U.S. Department of the Treasury through the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) has allocated funds to Rutherford County to help residents prevent eviction by assisting them with past due rent and/or utilities incurred due to the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic.

This project is being supported, in whole or in part, by federal award numbers ERA0179 and ERAE0228 awarded to Rutherford County, TN by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

The Rutherford County COVID-19 Rental Relief Program can help eligible county residents with these unexpected financial hardships created by COVID-19. The program assists low-income renters to cover past due rental and utility expenses over a 15 month period as well up to 3 months of rent assistance. Application for assistance may be initiated by either the Tenant or the Landlord. This program has specific eligibility requirements and not all households may be eligible. Application funding is subject to availability. Funds may not be available by the time a household applies. Other program limitations may also apply.

If you need assistance completing an application, our Help Call Center staff can assist with application questions by phone 615-334-4777. Call center hours are from 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM Central time Monday-Friday and 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM Central time Saturday. Language assistance is available for individuals who do not speak English as their primary language.

PRIORITIZATION OF ASSISTANCE:

For all applications received March 8th – March 22nd, applications will first review and commit funds to applicants who meet one of the two priority groups below:

  1. Renter Households with incomes less than 50% Area Median Income (AMI), Click here for Rutherford County Income Limits OR
  2. Households where one or more house members were unemployed for 90 days prior to the date you apply for assistance.

For all applications received after March 22nd, applications will be reviewed on a first come, first served basis.

FALSE OR FRAUDULENT DOCUMENTS OR STATEMENTS

Falsification of documents or any material falsehoods or omissions in the Application, including knowingly seeking duplicative benefits, is subject to state and federal criminal penalties. You are particularly put on notice that Title 18, Section 1001 of the United States Code states that a person is guilty of a felony for knowingly and willfully making false or fraudulent statement to any U.S. Department or Agency. Further, Title 13, Chapter 23, Section 133 of the Tennessee Code Annotated states that it is unlawful for any person to knowingly make, utter, or publish a false statement of substance for the purpose of influencing the agent to allow participation in any of its programs and such violation is a Class E felony.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

If you or anyone in your household is a person with disabilities and requires a specific accommodation in order to apply for this Program, please contact the Rutherford County’s Title VI Coordinator at [email protected]

FAIR HOUSING

The County follows all federal and state requirements related to fair housing and discrimination. The County also takes steps to affirmatively further fair housing in Tennessee and to ensure that all of its programs are free of discrimination.

TO REPORT FRAUD, WASTE, AND ABUSE:

All County employees and contractor employees have a responsibility to report waste, fraud and abuse within the agency. The public is invited to share such concerns. If you suspect fraud, waste or abuse please call: 1-800-232-5454

Suspected Fraud:

Any suspected fraud in connection with the Rutherford County COVID-19 Rental Relief Program should be reported to the County for immediate review. The County reserves the right to decline funding or participation if it is determined that fraud has occurred. For suspected fraud, please email: [email protected]

Report Fraud To:

Comptroller of the Treasury: https://comptroller.tn.gov/office-functions/investigations/fraud-waste-and-abuse

U.S. Department of Treasury: https://home.treasury.gov/services/report-fraud-waste-and-abuse

Office of Inspector General: https://oig.treasury.gov/fraud-alerts

For General Program Questions, Contact Us Here:

Website: http://rutherfordcountytn.gov/rental-relief-program

By phone: (615) 334-4777

NOTE: Much of the correspondence for this Program is via EMAIL, so please check your Spam email folder if you have not received any emails from Neighborly Software.