Town Of Cortlandt: Rental Assistance Program

Press release from the Town of Cortlandt:

June 03, 2021

New York State recently announced a rental assistance program to support households which are behind on their rent, which have experienced financial hardship, that are at risk of homelessness or housing instability and that earn at or below 80 percent of area median income.

Applications will be accepted starting June 1, 2021, at 9 am.

New York residents are eligible for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) if they meet all of the following criteria:

For the first 30 days of the program, the unemployed, those with income at or below 50 percent of area median income and other vulnerable populations will be prioritized for assistance. After this period, applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis, as long as funds remain available.

Applicants and landlords should visit: https://otda.ny.gov/programs/emergency-rental-assistance/  

Once approved, eligible households will receive up to 12 months of past due rent. Those eligible could also receive up to 3 months of additional rental assistance, if the household spends 30 percent or more of its gross monthly income on rent. The program also will provide up to 12 months of utility arrears for eligible applicants.

In addition to fiscal relief, ERAP will provide significant tenant protections. In order to receive assistance, the landlord must agree to waive any late fees due on past-due rent; and not increase the tenant's monthly rent or evict them for one year, except in limited circumstances.

This press release was produced by the Town of Cortlandt. The views expressed here are the author’s own.