More than 5 million homes still behind on rent: what if yours is one of them?

NEW YORK – With about two more months until the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ends the COVID-19 public health emergency that began three years ago, more than 5 million U.S. households remain behind on their rent payments.

In total, tenants continued to owe nearly $11 billion in rental debt in the first two weeks of February, according to data from the National Equity Atlas. On average, delinquent tenants owe $2,094.

Fortunately, the public health crisis has led to the creation of a number of new protections for struggling tenants, some of which are still in place.

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“In some cities, free tenancy assistance or legal assistance may be available, as well as community organizations and tenant unions that could help tenants understand their rights and possible solutions,” said specialist Jacob Haas. of research at Eviction Lab.

Here are some of your options if you’re in the red.

Consider your rental assistance options

Most rental assistance programs opened during the pandemic are now closed, but some are still accepting applications.

On the National Low Income Housing Coalition website, you can find a state-by-state guide to support options and your state.

Tenants should keep track of rental assistance opportunities available to them and apply quickly when they see one open, advocates say. Money tends to run out quickly.

On March 14, the Texas Rent Relief Program began accepting applications for assistance, but is expected to stop Thursday. A notice on its website reads: “In the first 24 hours of reopening, requests for assistance far exceeded available funds.”

Assess your financial resources

It’s not a strategy recommended by experts, but some tenants use their credit cards to cover rent. Few landlords or property managers accept this process, so you’ll need to find a third-party processor, such as Plastiq or PayPal.

This option should only be used in extreme situations, said Ted Rossman, senior industry analyst at CreditCards.com.

“The biggest potential problem is keeping a balance and paying interest on your rent,” Rossman said. “It can make an already large expense even more substantial.”

Instead, he recommends that tenants ask the landlord for an extension or a payment plan. Other ways to calculate rent could include borrowing from family and friends, or your retirement plan, Rossman said, though withdrawing your savings has its own consequences.

Familiarize yourself with tenant rights

It pays to do your research and familiarize yourself with any rights you may have as a tenant, experts say. Many of these rights have been expanded during the pandemic.

In some cities, for example, landlords are now limited in how much they can raise their rent. If you’re facing eviction because of an illegal raise, it’s worth knowing: you may be able to raise this issue in Housing Court or with your landlord.

In some places, you are entitled to a fixed notice period with an eviction, such as at least 90 days in specific cases in Portland, Maine. During the school year, educators and families with school-aged children recently won new eviction protections in Oakland, California.

In the meantime, if your landlord has raised your rent above a certain amount, you may be eligible in certain cities, including Seattle and Portland, Oregon, to cover some of your moving costs.

work with a lawyer

If your landlord has decided to evict you, housing advocates recommend that you try to get a lawyer as soon as possible.

A study in New Orleans found that more than 65% of tenants without legal representation were evicted, compared to just 15% of those who had an attorney with them at the hearing.

You can find free or low-cost legal help for an eviction in your state at Lawhelp.org.

In a growing number of cities and states, including Washington, Maryland and Connecticut, tenants facing eviction now have the right to a free attorney.

You can find a longer list of these places at civilrighttocounsel.org.

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This article was originally published in English by Annie Nova for our sister network CNBC.com. For more on CNBC, head here.