Emergency Rental Assistance

Announcing temporary expansion – Government Shutdown Emergency Rental Assistance program

To support residents being impacted by the federal government shutdown, Community Roots is temporarily expanding our Emergency Rental Assistance program during the months of November and December 2025. Read below to learn more and find out if you qualify.

We recognize that the government shutdown is impacting many residents’ access to critical programs like SNAP, WIC, and LIHEAP, and some may be experiencing major hikes to insurance premiums. This program provides emergency rental assistance to Community Roots’ residents. It is designed to help residents who have had a financial setback or unforeseen circumstance (including but not limited to impacts from the government shutdown) disrupt their ability to pay up to TWO (2) MONTHS of rent. This program is designed as a small safety net to keep residents financially stable and help prevent them from falling further behind on their rent.

Check below to see if the program is accepting applications.

See the eligibility criteria below to learn if you qualify.

Government Shutdown Emergency Rental Assistance funding is limited and available on a first-come, first-served rolling basis. The applications may close at any time without notice. Applying does not guarantee funding.

Households can request assistance of up to two (2) months of rent. (This is an expansion of our standard Emergency Rental Assistance program which only allowed requests of up to one month of rent.) Only current months balances are eligible. Emergency Rental Assistance cannot proactively pay future balances.

Need language/translation services? Call Resident Services at (206) 556-3335 and we will work with an interpreter to complete your application.

• You are a Community Roots Housing resident.
• Your household must have experienced an emergency or unexpected event that impacted your ability to pay rent, including but not limited to being impacted by the federal government shutdown.
• Your household is behind on rent by two (2) months or less at the time of application. “Less than two (2) months’ rent” means that it can help cover what you may still owe from previous partial rent payments.
• Only currently due balances are eligible. This fund will not proactively pay future balances that are not due.
• If you were a participant in the FISH or Emergency Rental Assistance program within the last 12 months, you may still be eligible for an additional award through the Government Shutdown Emergency Rental Assistance program this November or December. Please reach out to us at residentservices@communityrootshousing.org for more information.

CHECK TO SEE IF APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN