Nushrat Rahman Detroit Free Press Starting Monday, Michigan renters in need and landlords can start applying for federal rent dollars that are part of a COVID-19 relief bill that Congress passed in December. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Tuesday signed legislation allocating $282 million in federal rent aid the state Legislature approved. Of that, about $220 million is for emergency rent assistance and another $62 million is for administrative costs associated with the state's new rent aid program called the COVID Emergency Rental Assistance, or CERA. In all, Congress approved $660 million in rent aid for Michigan. The rest of the money must be allocated in subsequent legislation. GOP leaders have said they are allocating the money incrementally to ensure oversight and accountability.