Millions of people who are behind on their rent may soon lose their homes now that the U.S. Supreme Court has permanently repealed the COVID-19 eviction moratorium.

Only a few states have eviction moratoriums in place, most of which will expire by early October. So what should you do if you are months behind on your rent and are facing eviction?

The first step is to negotiate with the landlord, if possible. Many small landlords may prefer a payment arrangement to the hassle of finding and approving a new tenant.

But you may have already tried that. This is the result of the nearly $47 billion that Congress allocated to local governments to help residents pay rent and utilities during the coronavirus crisis. (7]

Of this amount, only about $5 billion had actually been spent by the end of July. The U.S. Treasury Department page provides links to state, tribal, and territorial agencies distributing rental assistance funds.

The application process may be confusing and may require uploading several documents. You then have to wait several weeks for your application to be approved, and there is no guarantee that it will be approved.

However, you must inform the landlord that you have applied for an ERA. Many state and local laws protect you from eviction while the approval process continues.

If you apply for an ERA program and are denied, you may need to seek legal assistance. You will need a local attorney, as laws regulating the eviction process vary widely from state to state and municipality to municipality.

The Legal Services Corporation (a government agency) can help you locate a legal services agency in your area. Princeton University's Eviction Lab has a detailed FAQ on eviction procedures and legal recourse.

If you are already facing or are facing eviction, you need immediate housing; Just Shelter is an organization that can help you find housing services in your area. Catholic Charities does the same thing.

Don't count on the fourth stimulus package to bail you out. The likelihood of a fourth stimulus check from the federal government is close to zero, although some states, notably California, are still issuing checks; most parents with children under age 18 will continue to receive child tax credit advance payments until December 15, after which they will be cut off

New York State's own eviction moratorium ended yesterday (August 31), but the state's new governor, Kathy Hochul, has called back a special session of Congress to extend New York's moratorium, possibly through mid-January. In Illinois, Governor J.B. Pritzker will extend the state moratorium until October 3. California and Washington State's eviction hold periods run through September 30, while Minnesota's partial hold period ends September 12. New Jersey lifted its middle-income eviction hold today (September 1), but low-income tenants will be protected until December 31.

New Mexico's eviction hold has no set expiration date. The state Supreme Court decides when it will end. For a complete list of eviction moratoria in each U.S. state, click here.