Montana Emergency Rental Assistance Program Guide

Last updated: June 26, 2026

About the Montana Emergency Rental Assistance Program

Montana’s Emergency Rental Assistance program was created to help state residents who faced the risk of losing their homes due to COVID-19-related financial hardship. The program covered both the Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program and the Homeownership Assistance Fund — making it one of the broader statewide relief initiatives, serving renters and homeowners. To understand how federal ERAP programs work, Montana’s program drew from two distinct federal funding streams administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

Funding came from two federal acts — the Consolidated Appropriations Act (ERA1) and the American Rescue Plan Act (ERA2) — and was appropriated by the 67th Montana Legislature through House Bill 3, House Bill 630, and House Bill 632. The program was administered by Montana Housing, the state’s housing agency. For a current picture of what is still available nationwide, the emergency rental assistance 2026 guide covers how to find active programs quickly when pandemic-era funding has wound down.

What the Montana ERAP Covered

Households that qualified could receive assistance for costs accrued on or after April 1, 2020. Eligible expense categories included:

• Past-due and future rent — up to a maximum monthly rent of $2,200.
• Home energy utility bills — current and future utility costs, up to $500 per eligible utility per month (increased from $300 effective February 22, 2022).
• Internet service — past-due and future internet costs, capped at $50 per month.
• Reasonable late fees on past-due rent, as supported by the lease agreement or landlord verification.
• Security deposits that had not been paid.
• Rental property application and credit check fees.

How Much Assistance Is Available and for How Long

Under ERA1 (Consolidated Appropriations Act)

• Combined past-due and future rent and utility assistance generally cannot exceed 12 months.
• An additional three months (for a total of 15) may be granted if needed to preserve housing stability, subject to available funding.
• Priority is given to clearing past-due rent and energy bills before approving future payments.
• Future rent assistance is limited to three months per application.

Under ERA2 (American Rescue Plan Act)

• Combined past-due and future rent and utility assistance cannot exceed 18 months.
• Future rent assistance remains capped at three months per application.
• Applicants who received the full 15-month maximum under ERA1 may qualify for up to three additional months under ERA2.

Eligibility Priorities and Income Limits

Montana was required by the U.S. Department of the Treasury to prioritize households with the greatest need. Priority was given to:

• Households with income at or below 50% of the Area Median Income (AMI).
• Households with one or more members unemployed for 90 or more consecutive days before the date of application.

The overall income limit was 80% of AMI. Montana Housing conducted regular reviews of approved applicants to verify that the majority of assisted households fell within the 0–50% AMI range, in line with federal prioritization requirements. Based on 2021 program data, 89% of assisted households had incomes below 50% of AMI. The federal emergency rental assistance framework provides additional context on how these income standards were set and applied nationally.

How to Apply for Montana Rental Assistance: Three Steps

Montana Housing structured the application process in three sequential steps. Completing Steps 1 and 2 before starting the formal application significantly improved approval rates.

1. Check your eligibility — Visit housing.mt.gov/Rental-Housing/Check-Eligibility to confirm your household meets all program requirements before proceeding.
2. Gather required documents and set up your Okta account — Review the application preparation guide at Montana Housing to understand exactly what documents are needed and how to create an Okta account (required to access the application portal). Detailed setup instructions were also available in walkthrough videos produced by Montana Housing.
3. Submit your application — Once Steps 1 and 2 are complete, apply through montana.servicenowservices.com/mera. Separate tenant and landlord application guides were available; landlords were also required to complete their portion of any joint application.

Pro Tip

Applications are only considered “Submitted” when both the tenant and the landlord have completed their portions. If either side is incomplete, the application sits in “New” status and cannot be reviewed. Notify your landlord immediately after starting an application so they can complete their section without delay.

What Happens After You Submit Your Application

After submission, your application moves through five stages tracked in the online portal:

• New — One party has completed their portion; the other has not yet done so.
• Submitted — Both the tenant and landlord have completed their portions.
• In Review — Montana Housing staff are reviewing eligibility and verifying documentation.
• Quality Control Review — A secondary reviewer verifies payment calculations and confirms all information needed to execute payment is present.
• Approved — Quality Control has cleared the application. An authorized Montana Housing manager approves payment, which is entered into the state accounting system. Check payments may take 7 to 10 business days to arrive.

If information is missing, the application may be flagged as “tenant pending information” or “landlord pending information” — respond promptly to avoid delays. Applicants found ineligible receive an email explaining the reason for denial. Montana residents currently facing eviction should also review alternatives to eviction alongside any assistance application, as legal aid and payment plan negotiation can help buy time while assistance is processed. For a broader list of programs that may still be active, the Montana rental assistance guide on this site is kept updated as program status changes.