You can check on the Case tab of the portal.

To assist Delawareans facing financial hardships as a result of the COVID-19 health crisis, DSHA created the Delaware Housing Assistance Program (DE HAP) in early 2020. The program provides emergency housing assistance to renters affected by shutdowns, closures, layoffs, reduced work hours, unpaid leave or financial hardship related to the COVID-19 health crisis.

In March 2021, a third version of the program was relaunched with new federal funding. DSHA has operated two previous versions of the program in 2020 and has incorporated this experience and stakeholder input into changes for the third version of the program.

Due to ongoing demand and recent U.S. Treasury policy changes, DEHAP is now closed to new applications and recertifications.

Individuals experiencing emergencies, such as eviction with a set court date, immediate risk of homelessness, or utility cut-off, can start a new application for assistance after January 2, 2023, through one of the program’s 13 Community Navigators.

DEHAP can cover arrears for rent, utilities (if stated in the lease) that are due to the landlord from April 2020 – present, current rent due, and arrears and current amounts due for certain utilities (electricity, gas, water, wastewater/sewer).

Late fees and court fees, if stated in the lease, may also be covered. Late fees can only be charged from August 2021 – on; from April 2020 – July 2021 late fees were prohibited under the State of Emergency.

You can apply for rent, utilities, or both. DEHAP can also assist with security deposits and first month’s rent for households moving into a rental unit.

For utilities due directly to the utility company, DEHAP can assist with:

• Electricity
• Wastewater/sewer
• Water
• Gas
• Bills will be paid directly to your utility company. You will need to upload a bill.

Any other utilities not listed here are not eligible for DEHAP assistance. Bills for trash service, propane, heating oil, Internet/cable/broadband are NOT eligible for DEHAP assistance. Those facing immediate utility cut-off must apply through a Community Navigator.

DSHA is working with a group of community partners who can help tenants in emergency situations (i.e. eviction, risk of homelessness, utilities) submit applications for rental assistance. A list of partners is available here.

Residents who are receiving federal or state rental assistance subsidies and meet other program requirements are eligible for DEHAP for assistance with the tenant portion of the rent. If they have not already, tenants should also pursue income recertification and rent adjustment if their income has changed.

Yes! Effective August 11, 2021, DEHAP can assist with security deposits and first month’s rent for households moving into a rental unit with a new lease. The household can also request future months of rent, up to the program maximum of 18 months.

All applicants must apply through a Community Navigator.

Individuals experiencing emergencies, such as eviction with a set court date, immediate risk of homelessness, or utility cut-off, can start a new application for assistance after January 2, 2023, through one of the program’s 15 Community Navigators. The complete list of Community Navigators is available here.

Keep an eye on your spam and junk mail to ensure you don’t miss any messages from the program. If you have a court hearing or similar event coming up, check your status on the portal and take documentation that you have applied.
If you are not sure if you included in your application that you have an eviction case, call us at 866-935-0407 to confirm and let us know if you have an upcoming hearing.

• Payment will be made directly to the property owner/manager or utility company.
• The portal will request ACH/direct deposit information to make this payment.
• Direct deposit is strongly encouraged.

Payments are made directly from RentRelief. They are typically batched for approval on Wednesdays and processed on Fridays. The status will change several times through the payment process:

• Approved for Payment – application has been fully reviewed and approved.
• Paid – Payment is fully processed.

Landlords will receive an email notice of payment, and can also view payment details on the portal under the Payments tab.

The DEHAP Program is 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). ERA-1 funding expired on September 30, 2022, and ERA-2 funds have been exhausted.

The DEHAP Program is permanently closed to new applications. It will not reopen.

The DEHAP portal is permanently closed to new applications and recertifications.

If both sides of the application were fully submitted prior to moveout, and there was no active eviction filing prompting the moveout, DEHAP may still be able to provide assistance.

• If a landlord accepts DEHAP assistance, they are agreeing to not evict the tenant due to non-payment of rent for the period covered by DE HAP payment and waive arrears from before the period covered by DE HAP payment. Other arrears may be addressed in a stipulated agreement reached through the Courts.

Funds no longer needed for rent must be returned to DEHAP. Return via check to:

DSHA Attn: DEHAP

18 The Green

Dover, DE 19901

Include the case number/tenant name on or with the check.

When the status of a case changes to Paid, the landlord/property manager email connected to the case will receive an email ACH/direct deposit stub specifying the case number, amounts and months covered.

Payments are batched at least once a week. If the status of a case is Approved for Payment, you should see payment within two weeks.

Case auditors are not able to answer questions about payment status. Please call the DEHAP call center at 866-935-0407 and staff can give more detail about dates processed or checks issued if you have questions.

Rent and utilities for those whose applications are in progress AND approved will be paid March 2023. DEHAP assistance is not guaranteed beyond that date and the program is closed to new applications permanently.

In general, case auditors are not able to answer general status update questions. The best thing to do is communicate with your tenant, or to call the DEHAP call center. Auditors will communicate with tenants about items needed from the tenant and landlords on items needed from the landlord.

If you have only one property, you will upload the W-9 under the Landlord Documents tab. If you have more than one property entered, a Property Documents tab will appear. This is where you will upload a W-9 for each property.