Bill > B25-0994

This bill amends the Homeless Services Reform Act of 2005 and the Rental Housing Act of 1985 to reform the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) in the District of Columbia. The key provisions include: 1) requiring specific documentation from tenants to establish ERAP eligibility, including the nature of the emergency situation, and allowing unsworn declarations under penalty of perjury if documentation is unavailable; 2) clarifying the definition of a "qualifying emergency situation" to include events like job loss or high medical costs that impact the tenant's ability to pay rent; and 3) allowing courts to stay eviction proceedings for non-payment of rent if the tenant submits documentation of a pending ERAP application, with the proviso that this stay can only be used once per case.