Governor Signs HB 16

Governor Mike Parson has signed HB 16 into law, which provides more than 324 million dollars in funding for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program or ERAP. The program was passed by Congress in December 2020, and made funding available to state and local governments to assist households that are unable to pay rent and utilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The program includes up to 12 months of assistance for rental arrears, forward rental assistance, utility arrears, and utility forward assistance. Utility assistance includes electricity, gas, water and sewer, trash removal, and certain energy costs. Both landlords and tenants are eligible to apply for assistance through the program. More information regarding the Emergency Rental Assistance Program can be found on the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s website. The Missouri Housing Development Commission will administer the program in Missouri.