Rent, utility aid will continue for eligible residents

NORRISTOWN >> A funding program slated to help renters and landlords impacted by COVID-19 has returned to Montgomery County.

The Rent and Utility Relief Program, administered by Your Way Home, allows eligible households to receive up to 12 months of assistance for rent and utility bills dating back to March 13, 2020.

This program aims to serve an estimated 1,900 to 3,800 households.

The program comes as the CDC’s eviction moratorium is set to expire on March 31 and Pennsylvania’s Public Utility Commission’s utility shutoff moratorium ends on April 1.

Assistance can be for past due rent and/or utility payments or future rent payments.

Funding for security deposits, first and/or last

month of rent is also eligible as part of the program. There is no financial limit on the amount of assistance a household can receive.

“We know that many people across Montgomery County are still facing job loss and economic impacts due to the coronavirus pandemic,” said Montgomery County Commissioners’ Chairwoman Valerie Arkoosh. “We are extremely grateful to be able to open up another round of rent and utility relief to our residents as we begin our road to recovery.”

There’s $55,055,660 million available for the program in Montgomery County through a combination of state and federal funding.

The U.S. Treasury for Emergency Rental Assistance allocated $24,795,001, and the state offered $30,260,659 by way of the US Treasury.

“This new round of funding will allow us to expand on our previous support to renters and landlords experiencing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Montgomery County Commissioners’ Vice Chairman Ken Lawrence Jr. “Through this program we can provide housing stability to hundreds of low and moderate-income Montgomery County residents at risk of eviction and homelessness.”

The rent and utility relief program has the following eligibility requirements:

• Households must reside in Montgomery County at the time of application.

• One or more individuals in 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 pandemic.

• The household can demonstrate a risk of homelessness or housing instability.

• Household must be at or below 80 percent of area median income at the time of application.

Income eligibility will be based on average gross income over the 30 days preceding the time of assistance. Income includes earned income, child support, welfare benefits, Social Security Income (SSI), Social Security Disability Income (SSDI), unemployment income, workman’s compensation, and any pension, investments, or 401K funds.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Montgomery County’s 2021 Rent and Utility Relief Program will evaluate applications based on priority, rather than on a first-come, first-served basis. Prioritized rental households will be at or below 50% of Average Median Income and in areas with higher shares of households living in poverty, cost-burdened low-income renters, severely overcrowded households, or unemployed people.

Applicants must provide a copy of a lease or proof of consistent rental payments at their address, photo identification, an overdue rent or utility notice, if applicable, current income documentation for all adults in the household, and proof of unemployment received or applied for, if applicable.

To apply, residents are encouraged to call 211 or text their zip code to 898-211. Applications can be done over the phone, in person, emailed, or a combination.

Residents can also reach out to one of six partner organizations below to learn more about the program and apply:

• ALCAMO: visit www. aclamo.org or call 610-2772570 in Norristown or 610970-2134 for the Pottstown location.

• Family Services of Montgomery County: email ERU@fsmontco.org or call 610-630-2111 x235.

• Manna on Main Street: visit www.mannaonmain. org/need-help/getting-help or call 215-855-5454.

• YWCA Tri-County Area: visit www.ywcatricountyarea.org/ERUC.

• CADCOM: visit www. cadcom.org/pre-screenform-eruc-cadcom.

• Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities: visit www.pottstowncluster.org/covidrentutilityassistance or call 484-3935441.