Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) Now Open!
The New York Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) is now open! This assistance can pay up to 12 months of past due rent and for some households, pay up to 3 months for future rent. The program can also pay for up to 12 months of overdue electric or gas bills.
New York households are eligible to apply if…
- Your household income is at or below 80% of the Area Median Income as defined by HUD based on household size;
- On or after March 13, 2020, a member of the household received unemployment benefits or experienced a reduction in income, incurred significant costs or experienced financial hardship, directly or indirectly, due to the COVID-19 pandemic;
- Your household has rental arrears (rent overdue) at your current residence for rent owed on or after March 13, 2020.
Applications can be completed online at https://nysrenthelp.otda.ny.gov/en/ Documentation is required from both the tenant and landlord.
As a Community Partner for the Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency and City of Buffalo Office of Strategic Planning, Heart of the City Neighborhoods, Inc. (HOCN) is available to assist with application intake for households in the in the West Side, Upper West Side, Lower West Side, Elmwood-Bidwell, Elmwood-Bryant, Allentown and Central Planning Neighborhoods. If you would like help completing your application, please contact our office today at (716) 882-7661 to learn more and schedule an appointment to complete your application in-person or by phone!