The live entertainment industry was hit especially hard by the coronavirus pandemic, with high unemployment rates for artists and members of the creative industries. Many in the industry are experiencing housing insecurity and challenges with mortgages or paying the rent. The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has announced that it will continue to work to get information out to the creative community to assist in their effort to recover and rebuild.

The NEA wants to ensure that artists and arts organizations are aware of the existing resources through the Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program, and how they can best be used to keep people in their homes. They believe this could provide real aid to members of the arts and creative industries during this very challenging time.

Arts practitioners and artists who have been experiencing housing instability, or are having trouble making rent or mortgage payments as a result of the coronavirus pandemic should know that they are not alone. Federal, state, and local governments are offering help with housing expenses and avoiding eviction. Information is available at the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau’s mortgage and housing assistance site on available resources.