With the new round of stimulus checks hitting some American's bank accounts, the Erie County Department of Human Services is getting ready to receive money too. For many people in the country, they lost their jobs because of the pandemic, and haven't been able to pay for rent. This poses a problem for both renters and landlords. The Emergency rental Assistance Program is aimed to help tenants stay in their homes, and help landlords get paid. John DeMattio is the Director of Human Services for Erie County and says this money will help across the board."
"This money which is a little more than 17 and a half million dollars will allow people to come off of those wait lists and continue those programs but as well as to take care of some of the other people that have been affected who wouldn't be in that regular pool of people that we are generally dealing with," says DeMattio.
This relief is coming on Monday the 29th. In an effort to prevent homelessness, the goal of this money to help landlords get paid and keep people in their homes.
"There are a number of people who have contacted us already, saying they are behind," says DeMattio.
Since the pandemic he's noticed more people reaching out for help.
"We know the numbers are higher than they normally have been. There are people who have been on these lists for rental assistance ongoing, now there's waiting lists," says DeMattio.
Now relief is on the way. The Department of Human Services is partnered with Erie County Care Management to help people get their assistance.
"There will be a process that people will have to apply, it's a joint process so this is going to be something both the tenant and the landlord will have to do together in order for these dollars to be paid," says DeMattio.
Both the renter and the landlord have to jointly apply for these funds. One or the other is able to start the process, but in order to get money for rent and utilities it has to be filed together. Funding can cover up to a year in costs.
You can register for these funds here.
And you can check eligibility here.