Rental Assistance Available More Helpful Than Ever Given Rising Rents

In recent months, the U.S. government has made several announcements to help tenants overcome their housing challenges. For example, the Department of Housing and Urban Development has provided a number of grantees and health centers with letters and information about rental assistance. The department has also reached out to child welfare leaders, urging them to make sure that their beneficiaries are aware of these programs and that they are available.

The Emergency Rental Assistance Program has been an incredibly helpful solution to the housing crisis in New York. The program has helped thousands of New Yorkers avoid foreclosure and face the threat of homelessness. The program is limited in resources, but has served as a lifeline for those in need. However, there is a significant need for additional funding to continue protecting those who depend on it. While it is important to support the City's Housing Department, we also must recognize that it is only a temporary solution to the housing crisis in the city.

While some renters may be able to access rental assistance through government programs, the application process can be cumbersome and time-consuming. Some applicants even report that they had received an eviction notice when they submitted their application. This extended waiting time can cause some renters to be evicted before the assistance actually arrives. However, it's essential to remember that rental assistance programs are designed to provide a lifeline for low-income families facing rising rents.

ERAP is an emergency program created by Congress to provide assistance to low and moderate-income tenants with their housing costs. The program is expected to continue until March 7, 2022, and provides financial support to hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers since it launched. ERAP will reimburse up to twelve months of rental and utility arrears that accumulated after March 13, 2020. In fact, over 25 billion dollars has been distributed to ERAP applicants nationwide since it was first established.

The National Low Income Housing Coalition lists 388 programs to help tenants with rising rents. The list includes information by age, rent level, and back or future rent. If you are eligible for one of these programs, it's best to contact your landlord as soon as possible. If you have applied for rental assistance before, your landlord may be willing to accept the funds. Just make sure you're honest with him about your situation, and don't be shy about it. Your landlord may be struggling financially too.

In the past three years, the U.S. Treasury has worked with state and local governments to streamline the distribution of assistance and reduce documentation requirements. It has also encouraged grantees to work directly with tenants, and provided policy clarity to help speed up the process. During the recent months, the Treasury released several recommendations meant to simplify the application process and streamline the process. In a recent press release, the department also clarified that self-attestation is a valid way to document eligibility.