NAR's Position on Rental Assistance
NAR has always maintained that the best solution for all parties was rental assistance to cover the rent, taxes, and utility bills for tenants struggling during the pandemic. This prevents two crises—one for tenants, and one for mom-and-pop housing providers who do not have a reprieve from their bills.
With rental assistance secured, the economy strengthening, and unemployment rates falling, there is no need to continue a blanket, nationwide eviction ban. Our focus now is on the swift and full implementation of rental assistance as we aim to regain stability and normalcy in America's housing market.
NAR's Advocacy Efforts on Rental Assistance
NAR remains focused on ensuring the effective deployment of rental assistance to protect tenants and avoid the ongoing financial burdens unfairly placed on housing providers. NAR continues to work closely with the Administration and a large coalition of industry partners on these efforts so that tenants and housing providers alike can meet their financial obligations and the housing market is stabilized.
- NAR has advocated for and helped secure nearly $50 billion in federal rental assistance funding. It continues to support its members in their efforts to obtain these critical funds for their tenants and remains one of the most vocal and committed public opponents of the CDC’s eviction moratorium.
- NAR also continues to work within a large, industry-wide coalition opposing the CDC orderpdf and advocating for effective deployment of emergency rental assistance.
- As advocated for by NAR, the White House recently released additional guidance aimed at speeding up and improving distribution of Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) funds to tenants and housing providers in need.
- Read more about the ERAP changes, including the allowance of allowing self-attestation, advances for housing providers, and ensuring that previous addresses are eligible for ERAP funds.
- NAR also recently met with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to discuss methods for better communicating the availability of aid to both renters and housing providers who can benefit from it. That feedback was used to develop a brand new helpful toolkit for renters and housing providers on accessing rental assistance.
- NAR will continue to work with the Administration and Congress to improve the distribution of ERAP funds and ensure they are getting to tenants who qualify so their housing providers can be made whole.
