The Erie County Department of Social Services has announced the opening of the portal for the New York State Emergency Rental Assistance Program (“ERAP”), which will provide income-qualified renters who experienced financial hardship due to COVID-19 with up to 12 months back rent and up to three months future rent. Utility arrears assistance may also be available in some cases.

The NYS ERAP application portal is now open and the NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (“OTDA”) will also have a call center dedicated to the ERAP program open 7 days a week from 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM at 1-844-NY1-RENT or 1-844-691-7368. Information about the program is available now on the OTDA’s ERAP website .

“Erie County wants to raise awareness of the Emergency Rental Assistance program and ensure safe stable housing for Erie County residents impacted by the COVID19 pandemic,” said Erie County Commissioner of Social Services Marie A. Cannon.

During the first 30 days of the program priority will be given to applications from households at or below 50 percent of the Area Median Income as well as households with veterans, people currently unemployed, pending eviction cases, mobile home residents, and people living in communities disproportionately affected by COVID-19. Low-income applicants are urged to submit applications to the program as soon as possible during the month of June to receive priority evaluation. ERAP payments will be made directly to the landlord on behalf of the tenant. Tenants will be notified of the payments made on their behalf.

New York State has $35 million in federal funding allocated to the NYS ERAP for Erie County residents and the Erie County Social Services Department will be working with community-based organizations on ERAP promotion, program outreach, and application assistance.

For more information:

On the NYS ERAP program, visit https://otda.ny.gov/programs/emergency-rental-assistance/website  

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