New York City,

New York State launches Emergency Rental Assistance Program to help low-income households; state pay rent arrears, providing financial assistance in case of homeless or eviction. The process of submitting applications under the program will begins from June 1, 2021.

The seven communities receiving emergency rental assistance from the federal government have launched their own separate programs. Residents of the City of Rochester, Monroe County, City of Yonkers, Onandaga County and Hampstead, Islip and Oyster Bay will have to apply to their local programs to get help in rentals.

ERAP program qualifiers must meet government defined standards, individuals whose gross income is 80% or less of EMI and who have had unemployment or income loss since March 13, 2020, or who were facing financial difficulties due to the global outbreak of Covid19.

If after 13 March 2020 the applicant is obliged to pay the rent of his residence and his rent arrears or rent is due, he is entitled to this assistance.

The program can also benefited to those who are at risk of becoming homeless or facing housing instability if they do not pay rent by March 13, 2020.

It should be noted that there is no immigration status to be eligible for this program. However, eligible families or individuals may also be eligible to pay other arrears in respect of this rent.

In the first 30 days of the program, households that will be given priority will have 50% or 80% of the total EMI income or less, and any member of that household will be unemployed for more than 90 days or be a victim of domestic violence or human trafficking.

Either his current housing eviction case is in court, or he lives in a community that has been badly affected by the Covid 19 global pandemic.

After the initial 30 days until the funds are available, all eligible families will be provided first-come, first-served basis.

If the householder spends 30% or more of their total monthly income to pay the rent, the rent will be paid for 3 more months. Electricity or gas arrears will be paid for 12 months accumulated on or after March 13, 2020.

Payment will be made directly to the landlord or utility company while the applicant will be notified in case of payment

If it is difficult to find a landlord or the required information is not complete, it will take up to 180 days to find the landlord and provide the required information and provide maximum protection to the tenant.

In order to submit an application for this program, the applicant will have to provide his / her family ID cards, photographs, utility bills and other necessary documents.

This post was originally published on VOSA.