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DEHAP RECOUPMENT PROCESS

The DEHAP Rental Assistance Program was funded through the federal Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) Program, which the U.S. Treasury Department distributed to Delaware in January (ERA-1) and May 2021 (ERA-2).

Now that the program is winding down, Delaware State Housing Authority is required by the U.S. Department of Treasury to complete a financial audit of the program and to attempt to recoup funds on cases that were overpaid or cases that received payment in error.

Our recoupment efforts follow the guidelines, match actions completed by other states, and position Delaware as a competent recipient of these historical funds. Recoupment efforts will begin in early May.

Please see the FAQs below for more information.

Frequently Asked Questions

How will I know if I am expected to return funds to the program?

You will be contacted via phone, email, and mail if your DEHAP case was overpaid or paid in error. If you are a landlord, we recommend you begin reviewing your rent ledgers and financial records for 2020, 2021, and 2022. The U.S. Department of Treasury only allows for a total of 18 months of assistance per tenant household.

Why was my case selected for recoupment?

If you are a landlord, your DEHAP Rental Assistance case was selected for recoupment either because: a) your tenant received more than 18 months of financial assistance from the program, or b) your application was not processed in accordance with program expectations, and payment was issued in error. The U.S. Department of Treasury only allows for a total of 18 months of assistance per tenant household. It is important to note that the tenant might have maxed out on their DEHAP rental assistance before moving to your property.

If you are a tenant, your DEHAP Rental Assistance case was selected for recoupment because you received more than 18 months of financial assistance from DEHAP. The U.S. Department of Treasury only allows for a total of 18 months of assistance per tenant household.

Where should I send back returned funds?

Returned funds can be sent via check to:

Delaware State Housing Authority
Attn: DEHAP Rental Assistance Program
18 The Green
Dover, DE 19901

All returned funds must be accompanied by a Return Funds form, located here.

I do not agree with the decision to recoup funds on my DEHAP case. Can I request an appeal?

Payees will be permitted to request an appeal of the decision to recoup funds on their DEHAP case(s). Appeals must be submitted, in writing, to:

Delaware State Housing Authority
Attn: DEHAP Recoupment Appeals
18 The Green
Dover, DE 19901

Appeal requests must use the standard DEHAP Recoupment Appeal Request form, located here.

Why is the recoupment process happening now?

Recoupment is occurring because DEHAP is winding down and following close-out instructions issued by the U.S. Department of Treasury. Delaware State Housing Authority is required to complete a financial audit of the program and recoup funds from overpaid cases and cases that received payment in error.

How and why did overpayments occur?

The DEHAP Rental Assistance Program was an emergency assistance program. From the beginning, DSHA recognized the extreme need of our rental community and worked tirelessly to get funds out of the door. At one point, our agency dispersed close to $2 million a week, and our efforts kept eviction rates lower than pre-pandemic levels. Our rapid response led to some processing errors that we are committed to correcting in the same diligent manner as we implemented the program. We appreciate the integrity shown by those landlords and tenants who have already taken the initiative to return overpaid funds and thank everyone in advance for their patience.

I'm a tenant who received more than 18 months of assistance. Now, my delinquent rent is no longer covered and I'm not sure what to do.
  • Talk to your landlord about a possible repayment plan or other alternative solution.
  • Check out our website for information on other community resources which may be able to offer assistance.
  • For questions, leave a voicemail at 302-577-5008. Due to limited staffing capacity, not all voicemails will receive return phone calls. The DEHAP team will contact applicants whose cases merit further review.
I'm a landlord. How will this affect my tax returns?

You have the option to either claim recouped DEHAP funds as part of your 2023 tax return, or you may request an updated 1099-MISC form and file an amendment to a previously submitted tax return specific to the year DEHAP funds were disbursed. Please email RentReliefAdmin@yardi.com to request an updated 1099 form. General information on the 1099 process can be found here: 1099-FAQ-12082022.pdf (decovidhousinghelp.com).  

What happens to the recouped funds?

Funds recouped from ERA-1 will be returned to the U.S. Department of Treasury, while funds recoupled from ERA-2 will be reallocated to support tenants currently facing eviction with a set court date.