If the pandemic has left you without the means to pay your full monthly rent, the COVID Rent Relief Program provides eligible households with a rental subsidy from the New York State Office of Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) – money that is sent directly to the household’s landlord for those who qualify.
Applicants will not need to repay this assistance and the Covid Rent Relief Program is not first-come, first-served. Instead, HCR will prioritize eligible households with “greatest economic and social need” accounting for income, rent burden, percent of income lost and risk of homelessness.
The rental assistance payment will cover the difference between the household’s rent burden on March 1, 2020, and the increase in rent burden for the months the households is applying for assistance. Households can apply for up to four months in rental assistance.
Eligible households must meet the following criteria:
· Before March 1, 2020, and at the time of application, household income must have been below 80 percent of the area median income, adjusted for household size. You can find your county’s area median income, based on your household size at www.hcr.ny.gov/eligible-income-limits-80-ami-county.
· Before March 1, 2020, and at the time of application, the household must have been paying more than 30 percent of gross monthly income towards rent. Gross income includes wages as well as any cash grants, child support, social security, unemployment benefits, etc.
· Applicants must have lost income during the period of April 1, 2020 to July 31, 2020.
HCR has created a dedicated call center to provide residents with help Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Call the COVID Rent Relief Program Call Center at 1-833-499-0318 or email at covidrentrelief@hcr.ny.gov.