Benefits · General Assistance

How to apply for St. Lucie County Emergency Rental Assistance + Rental Assistance Program

St. Lucie County Community Services Department — Housing Division

Who it's for

St. Lucie County administers two paired rental assistance programs through its Community Services Department Housing Division. The Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) provides financial assistance for past-due rent, current-month rent, up to three months of future rent (if funding allows), and utilities. Eligibility requires St. Lucie County residency (unincorporated, Fort Pierce, or St. Lucie Village), an executed lease, and a documented risk of homelessness or housing instability. The Rental Assistance Program provides up to three months of past-due rent capped at $7,000 per household maximum, and may also include move-in costs (first month's rent, last month's rent, and security deposit) when a new lease is being secured — this is the most comprehensive move-in assistance package in the modeled FL cluster. Utility assistance under both programs covers only utilities in arrears (past-due) and the current month due at the time of application approval. Apply online through the St. Lucie County Housing Division portal — the online application is the fastest path. Library branches across the county offer computer access for residents without home internet. Other St. Lucie housing safety-net programs include the Homeowner Assistance Program (HAP) for homeowners with mortgage delinquencies.

St. Lucie's rental assistance programs are funding-constrained — the $7,000 per household cap on the Rental Assistance Program is per program cycle, and ERAP funding availability varies. The online application is the fastest path; residents without internet access can use St. Lucie County Library System branches to apply. Utility assistance under both programs covers only arrears (past-due amounts) and the current month at application approval — future-month utility assistance is not available. For homeowners facing mortgage delinquency, the separate Homeowner Assistance Program (HAP) is the appropriate pathway. The income gate modeled here (~80% AMI / $50,000 for 1-person household 2026 in Port St. Lucie MSA) is the typical HUD threshold; specific sub-programs may use stricter income gates.

What you'll need

Government-issued photo ID for the applicant
Proof of St. Lucie County residency (unincorporated, Fort Pierce, or St. Lucie Village)
Proof of household income (pay stubs, Social Security award letter, SSA-1099, tax return)
Executed lease between you and the property owner or property management company
Documentation of risk of homelessness or housing instability
Eviction notice or past-due rent statement (for ERAP)
Past-due utility bill (for utility assistance component)
Online application via stlucieco.gov Housing Division portal

Where to apply

Apply online: official application

By phone: 772-462-1777

Renewals

Rental Assistance Program caps at $7,000 per household per program cycle; ERAP up to 3 months future rent + utility arrears

Official source →Last verified · May 30, 2026

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Not legal or financial advice. The agency makes the final eligibility decision.