Financial Assistance for Renters and Homeowners

Renters and homeowners who were financially impacted by COVID-19 can access applications for rent and mortgage relief starting June 29. The applications will be available by clicking on a red CARES banner on the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) website at https://www.phfa.org/pacares/.

Renters can receive up to $750 a month, homeowners $1,000 a month, for six months, during the timeframe from March through November 2020.

Must provide documentation that income fell 30%, or documentation from applying for unemployment, and must fall below very generous income thresholds.

CARES financial assistance for renters and homeowners:

· Applications are available starting June 29.

· Completed applications can be submitted for review starting July 6.

HARRISBURG – Renters and homeowners who were financially impacted by COVID-19 can access applications for rent and mortgage relief starting June 29. The applications will be available by clicking on a red CARES banner on the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) website at https://www.phfa.org/pacares/.

PHFA is partnering with organizations in all 67 counties to help process the large number of rent relief applications anticipated. Partner agencies in LASP’s service area include:

· Bucks County: Bucks County Opportunity Council, 100 Doyle St., Doylestown, PA 18901

· Chester County: Housing Authority of the County of Chester, 30 W. Barnard St., Suite 2, West Chester, PA 19382

· Delaware County: Delaware County Human Services, 20 S. 69th St., Upper Darby, PA 19082

· Montgomery County: Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services / Office of Housing and Community Development, P.O. Box 311, Norristown, PA 19404-0311

Renters and landlords

Cares Rent Relief Program (RRP) at https://www.phfa.org/pacares/rent.aspx. Renters will submit their applications and supporting paperwork to the partner organization in their county for review.

Homeowners

CARES Pandemic Mortgage Assistance Program (PMAP) at https://www.phfa.org/pacares/mortgage.aspx

Homeowners seeking help with payment of past-due mortgage will apply directly to PHFA:

· online, or

· print and mail to the agency.

The Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, passed in March, provided $3.9 billion for Pennsylvania and is intended to help people hurt economically during the pandemic. In late May, the General Assembly directed $175 million of these CARES dollars to PHFA to provide assistance for struggling renters and homeowners. The portion for rent assistance is at least $150 million, and $25 million was set aside for mortgage assistance.

The PHFA call center will be open weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. to answer questions about the programs, at 1-855-U-Are-Home (827-3466). Listen for the prompt mentioning CARES assistance for renters and homeowners.

The county organizations to which CARES applications are submitted will also have webpages offering useful information. CARES funding for renters and homeowners must be completely distributed by Nov. 30, 2020, although it is expected the assistance will be exhausted before the deadline.

The PHFA works to provide affordable homeownership and rental housing options for older adults, low- and moderate-income families, and people with special housing needs.

Press release: https://www.phfa.org/forms/press_releases/2020/phfa-caresfundingreminder-final-06262020.pdf