Stanislaus County Emergency Rental Assistance Program Guide

Last updated: June 26, 2026

What Was the Stanislaus County Emergency Rental Assistance Program

The Stanislaus County ERAP was a federally funded COVID-19 relief initiative that provided rent and utility assistance to income-qualified tenants and landlords in Stanislaus County, California. The program helped residents who experienced financial hardship due to the pandemic maintain their housing and avoid eviction. Both tenants and landlords of residential rental properties in the county were eligible to apply, and all application information was kept confidential — personal information collected by the Stanislaus ERAP was not shared or disclosed by program employees or agents.

The program was administered locally before transitioning to the statewide California COVID-19 Rent Relief framework. For a broader understanding of how ERAP programs work at the federal level, funding flowed through the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act. Stanislaus County is one of several Central Valley counties that received this assistance — neighboring Merced County ran a parallel program under the same state framework.

Who Was Eligible for Stanislaus County Rental Assistance

Both tenants and landlords of rental properties within Stanislaus County were encouraged to apply. Standard eligibility requirements for this type of California ERAP program included:

• Residency in Stanislaus County: The rental property must be located within Stanislaus County.
• COVID-19 financial impact: Applicants must have experienced income loss, job loss, or increased expenses directly tied to the pandemic.
• Income limits: Household income must fall at or below 80% of the Stanislaus County Area Median Income (AMI), in line with federal ERA program guidelines.
• Outstanding rent or utility bills: Applicants needed to demonstrate overdue housing costs or a risk of housing instability.
• Data privacy: All personal and financial information submitted was kept strictly confidential by program staff.

Pro Tip

If you’re unsure whether you meet the income threshold, apply through the state portal anyway. The statewide Housing is Key program uses AMI limits that are confirmed during the review process — a caseworker makes the final determination, not the applicant. Don’t assume you won’t qualify without checking.

How to Apply for Rental Assistance in Stanislaus County Now

With the local Stanislaus County ERAP now closed to new applications, the primary pathway for current applicants is California’s statewide rental assistance program administered through Housing is Key (housing.ca.gov). This is the portal explicitly recommended by Stanislaus County for residents who have not yet submitted an application. The state program covers many of the same costs — past-due rent, utility bills, and in some cases future rent — for income-qualified tenants and landlords statewide.

Steps to Apply Through the California State Portal

• Visit housing.ca.gov and create an account or log in.
• Complete all household, income, lease, and landlord information sections of the application.
• Upload all required documents — lease or rental agreement, proof of income, and documentation of COVID-19 financial impact — before submitting.
• Submit the application and monitor your status through the portal dashboard. Respond promptly to any follow-up requests.

For residents of the broader Sacramento region and Central Valley, the Sacramento County Emergency Rental Assistance Program covers adjacent jurisdictions and may have additional resources available. Renters in the San Joaquin Valley can also check emergency rental assistance in Stockton for nearby program options. For a full picture of what is currently available across the state, the California rental assistance programs directory covers active and recently closed programs by county. Tenants facing eviction proceedings should also review alternatives to eviction before a court date is set.