COVID-19 Housing-Related Assistance for Residents

Anne Arundel County

  • ACDS Eviction Prevention Program provides temporary rental and utility assistance for eligible renters whose employment income has been impacted by COVID-19.
  • CB46-20 prohibits residential rent increases greater than 3% upon the renewal of a lease during the Governor’s catastrophic health emergency and for 120 days thereafter. This bill went into effect August 22nd.

Baltimore City

  • The Baltimore City COVID-19 Temporary Rent Support program application period is CLOSED and not currently accepting new applications.  If you applied previously, you will be notified directly of your status. To learn about other sources of support, or to check the status of your application, CLICK HERE.
  • The Renter Relief Act, prohibits a housing provider from increasing rent and charging late fees during an emergency and within 90 days after the expiration of an emergency. The bill requires a housing provider to inform a resident to disregard any notice of a rental fee if the notice was provided to the resident prior to an emergency and the increase would occur on or after the date the emergency began. 

Baltimore County

  • COVID-19 Eviction Prevention Program: the program is currently closed and not currently accepting new applications. If residents applied previously, their applications will be considered based on eligibility and the availability of funds. Residents will be notified directly of their status. Due to the high volume of applicants, wait times can vary. Visit their website regularly for potential new rounds of funding and new programs.

City of Frederick

  • Ordinance No. G-20-17 prohibits a landlord from increasing a tenant’s rent if the increase would take effect during an emergency or 180 days thereafter. It also prohibits a landlord from charging or assessing a late fee for late or missed rent due during the emergency and for 180 days thereafter, and prohibits a landlord from deducting monies from a security deposit during the bill’s effective time period. The legislation went into effect on July 2nd.
  • The Religious Coalition, Frederick County, and the City of Frederick, are partnering to provide rental assistance to those directly impacted by COVID-19.

Howard County

  • Rental assistance and eviction prevention: beginning July 6th, eligible Howard County residents may contact one of the participating providers to complete an application for assistance to pay past due rent and/or mortgage payments and/or to prevent eviction. Maximum assistance per household is 3 months of housing expense.
  • Howard County Council Bill No. 33-2020 prohibits a landlord or mobile park owner during the declared Emergency Order of March 5th from Governor Hogan from increasing rent or fees, decreasing utilities or services, assessing late fees, terminating tenancy, lease, or rental agreements for money defaults or altering terms of agreements to the financial detriment of the tenant.  These provisions are retroactive from March 5 and are in effect for the period   during the Emergency Order and up to three months after the emergency.

Montgomery County

  • Residents can now receive up to $600 per month for 3 months by applying to COVID-19 Rental Assistance Program. Housing providers must provide additional documentation with resident application. Deadline to apply is Aug. 31 at 2 pm
  • The COVID-19 Renter Relief Act, effective April 24, 2020, prohibits landlords from increasing existing tenants’ rent by more than 2.6% after April 24 and during the COVID-19 catastrophic health emergency signed by the Governor on March 5, or notifying tenants of a rent increase of more than 2.6% during the COVID-19 emergency and for 90 days after the emergency ends.

Prince George's County

  • The COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program is temporarily closed. Check their website for updates.
  • Bill 16-20 prohibits housing providers from increasing a tenant’s rent or imposing late fees or penalties if the rent increases would take effect during the Governor’s COVID-19 emergency and within 90 days thereafter. A housing provider is also prohibited from issuing notice of a rent increase or late fees during the emergency and within 90 days after the expiration of an emergency. 

Statewide Resources and Information

  • Counties not listed above may still have rent relief funding. Call your local county government or visit their website for more information.
  • The Maryland Energy Assistance Program (MEAP) provides financial assistance with home heating bills. Payments are made to the fuel supplier and utility company on the customer’s behalf.
  • Courts will begin to hear failure to pay rent cases starting August 31st