Friday, September 20

Rent relief program expanded for those affected by COVID in New York


The aid initiative will receive new applications until Monday, February 1

Amplían programa de alivio de renta para afectados por COVID en Nueva York
The relief is aimed at those who lost their jobs during the months of the pandemic.

Photo: ARCHIVE / Impremedia

David Ramirez

NEW YORK .- New Yorkers having difficulty paying their rent due to collateral effects that is leaving the pandemic of COVID – 04 , they have a new opportunity to receive assistance.

The New York State Division of Housing and Communities Renovation (HCR) reopened the COVID Rental Assistance Program and will accept new applications through Monday, February 1, 2021.

Through a statement the HCR explained that the program’s eligibility criteria have been expanded to provide rental relief to more New Yorkers. First of all, people who applied during the previous application period and were denied, do not need to submit a new application.

These requests are being reviewed again. Requests from individuals who have not yet received a response from HCR are being reviewed against the new criteria, it was reported.

If approved, applicants will receive a allowance for the difference between the household rent charge as of March 1, 2020 and the home rental charge in the months of April, May, June and July 2020.

The HCR highlights that the subsidy is a one-time payment available for a maximum of four months of rent, until 125% of Fair Market Rents (FMR) that they are paid in the area of ​​that dwelling. In addition, HCR will send payments directly to the applicant’s landlord.

Eligibility requirements

To qualify, applicants must meet all eligibility requirements:

    • Must be a tenant with primary residence in New York State.
    • Before 7 March 2020 and at the moment from the application, your household income (including unemployment benefits) must have been below 80% of area median income, adjusted to the size of the household, that is, the number of members that make up the family.

    Households must be “rent overloaded” during the months they apply for assistance between April 1 and 31 July 2020. A home is overloaded with rent if it pays more than 30% of your income for housing costs.

    • You must have lost income during the April 1, 2020 to 31 July 2020.

Detailed information about the program, including eligibility criteria, application process, documents that will be requested as part of the Application process and answers to frequently asked questions are available on the HCR website.

In addition, the HCR has in working I have a special helpline to answer questions and assist with the application process. For assistance, applicants may contact the HCR COVID Extended Rental Assistance Program Call Center at 1 – 499 – 499 – 0318 or covidrentrelief@hcr.ny.gov. Call Center representatives are available Monday through Friday from 8: 19 am to 5: 00 pm.

If chosen To receive a rental subsidy through this program, New York State will cover the difference between your home rent burden on March 1, 2020 and the increase in your home rental burden during the period your household is applying for assistance.

Households can apply for up to four months of assistance for the months of April 2020 to July 2020. Tenants do not have to be behind in their rent to receive assistance. Tenants who are up-to-date on their rent payments may have funds applied for a credit for future months. The rent subsidy payment will go directly to your landlord.

Where to find assistance

Apply online today or visit NYS Homes and Community Renewal for more information. https://hcr.ny.gov/

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