ERIE COUNTY

HOUSING AUTHORITY

Erie County Emergency Rental Assistance Program

Program Begins March 29, 2021

What does the Emergency Rental Assistance Program pay for?

For eligible participants, funding can pay for up to a total of 12 months rent and/or utilities. Rental arrears can be paid from March 13, 2020. No rental/utility arrears prior to March 13, 2020, are covered by these funds. Funding can pay for three months prospective rent (forward rent), providing there has been assistance to reduce rental arrears, and it does not exceed the 12-month cap. Tenants do not have to be in arrears to be eligible for prospective rent. Security Deposit and some Housing Stability services are also covered with these funds.

What are the eligibility requirements for these funds?

One or more individuals within the household has qualified for unemployment benefits or experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs, or experienced other financial hardship due, directly or indirectly, to the COVID-19 outbreak;
One or more individuals within the household can demonstrate a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability; and
The household has a household income at or below 80% of area median income.

Area Median Income Information can be found here:

https://www.dhs.pa.gov/coronavirus/Documents/ERAP%20Income%20Limits%20of%20AMI%20by%2 0County.pdf