ROCHESTER HOUSING AUTHORITY ENCOURAGES RESIDENTS TO SEEK RENTAL ASSISTANCE AS EVICTION MORATORIUM SET TO EXPIRE

August 4, 2021

New York State’s Eviction Moratorium to Expire August 31st

 Rochester, NY., August 4, 2021 New York’s Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2020, put in place to protect tenants and homeowners undergoing economic hardships due to COVID-19, remains in effect until August 31, 2021. As the moratorium comes to an end, many low-income families across the state are left at risk. The Rochester Housing Authority (RHA) continues to provide critical assistance to its residents and program participants who suffer income loss or increased expenses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

RHA strongly encourages those receiving housing aid through its public housing and rental assistance programs, such as Section 8, to take advantage of the City of Rochester and Monroe County’s EPPI 2.0 Program and New York State’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP). RHA continues to notify residents of available programs as both programs are there to assist those in need. For those in RHA’s housing assistance programs that are not eligible for additional rental assistance by the City or County, RHA is offering repayment plan opportunities.

 

“With the eviction moratorium coming to an end, we are concerned that low-income families in our community will not be in a financial position to repay past-due rent,” said Shawn Bur, Deputy Executive Director of the Rochester Housing Authority. “We’re working diligently to ensure that all residents and participants who are actively receiving services through our agency are prepared and have the necessary tools to get through this challenging time, including navigating the application process for available emergency rental assistance programs.”

 

Throughout the pandemic, RHA has worked diligently to provide residents and participants with much needed assistance and accommodations, including:

  • Mailed notifications to all residents and participants about available assistance programs and supportive services.
  • Launched landlord incentive programs including a repayment plan incentive, security deposit initiative, and rehabilitation cost recovery plan that went into effect in October 2020 and remain open until November 30, 2021.   The goal of the incentives is to increase participation in the Section 8 program. To date, 440 landlords have taken advantage of these opportunities.
  • Adopting applicable HUD COVID-19 waivers in June 2020, including providing alternative requirements for income verification, income monitoring, and considering pandemic-related issues as “good cause” for Participation Contract extensions.
  • Hosting virtual hearings to allow the process to continue uninterrupted without residents or participants having to come in person.
  • Assisting with EPPI 2.0 applications to ensure paperwork is complete.
  • More information can be found at: Rochester Housing Authority - Housing support and services in the greater Rochester, New York region

 

As the end to the eviction moratorium looms, RHA remains dedicated to ensuring residents and participants remain in their homes. Residents requiring assistance with their applications should reach out to their housing specialist assigned to them.

 

Applications for each program are available here:

 

 

About Rochester Housing Authority: Established in 1955 as an independent public corporation by New York State Public Housing Law, the Rochester Housing Authority (RHA) serves more than 22,000 lower-income families, seniors and disabled residents in the five-county Greater Rochester area. Approximately 20% of those reside in the 2,400+ RHA public housing units, while others served receive assistance in the form of voucher or certificate programs that help them afford eligible, private housing.   

 

Rochester Housing Authority does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex, religion, family status or disability in leasing, rental, occupancy, use or other disposition of housing or related facilities.

 

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