Philadelphia’s rental assistance program resumes taking applications

Philadelphia’s rental assistance program resumes taking applications Monday afternoon. Any renter or landlord in need of help can apply online, by fax, or by mail beginning at 2 p.m.

Unlike the first round of assistance, the funds will be awarded on a first come, first serve basis.

You can read: All of Pennsylvania is now in the Green Phase

The program is offered by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency using funding from the federal CARES Act. PHDC manages the program in Philadelphia.

The program will run until Sept. 30 or until there is no more funding.

Key points to be considered for the application:

• Applicants must be Philadelphia residents (renters in other countries must apply to their country´s designated organization.
• Landlords and renters must each provide information.
• Renters must have lost more than 30% of their income due to reduced work hours/wages because of COVID-19, or have become unemployed after March 1 due to COVID-19.
• Renters who applied for PA unemployment assistance must have done so after March 1.
• Renters’ income at the time of application must be no more than 100% of the area median income.
• Assistance is limited to $750 per month per household and $4,500 over six months.
• Payments will be made to landlords.
• Landlords must agree to the terms of the program and may not displace the household or begin eviction proceedings for at least 60 days from the final month of rental assistance.