Published: 4/29/2021 12:36:34 PM
EASTHAMPTON — Changes to Easthampton’s emergency rental assistance program are expanding eligibility for the service, which provides residents who have difficulty paying rent due to COVID-19 impacts with up to $3,000 in aid.
The updated program expands assistance for people living with roommates and those who are not yet behind on rent, in addition to eliminating the need for asset or bank account verification.
Under the previous guidelines, unrelated individuals on the same lease were considered a household, and were therefore subjected to eligibility requirements regarding income, asset and bank account qualifications. But under the revised guidelines, people living together as roommates will not need to combine their incomes when applying for the program.
The new guidelines state that the former requirement “eliminates many renters who work low-wage jobs and individually qualify, but when combined exceed income limits.”
Under the updated policy, applicants also do not need to be behind in rent in order to qualify. According to the new guidelines, the former requirement was “dehumanizing,” as it would force “otherwise eligible people to go into debt to qualify for the program.”
Applicants also do not need to undergo an asset or bank account verification, as was previously required.
Several requirements stayed the same: Applicants’ financial hardship must be related to COVID-19 economic hardship; assistance maxes out at $3,000 per rental unit; and individuals living in subsidized housing can only receive assistance for back rent owed to their landlord.
The city’s Community Preservation Act Committee voted to pass the amendments, 8-0, after feedback from community members and city councilors.
Easthampton launched the emergency rent relief program in February, after previously receiving $300,000 in funding from the Community Preservation Act.
Residents can apply by calling Community Action Pioneer Valley, the program’s administrator, at 413-475-1570. The line is staffed from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, with a break from noon to 1 p.m.
Jacquelyn Voghel can be reached at jvoghel@gazettenet.com.
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