Help Available For PA Rent, Mortgage During Coronavirus

HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvanians struggling to pay their rent or mortgage because they were impacted by the coronavirus outbreak and shutdown can now apply to the state for help.

Renters may qualify for up to $750 a month for six months and homeowners may receive up to $1,000 for six months.

Applications for the help, which comes from a $175 million fund from the federal CARES Act, became available on Monday. The applications can be found on the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency's website.

Applications will be accepted by the state starting July 6.

The assistance will be for rent or mortgage payments that were due as early as March and continuing through November.

Gov. Tom Wolf has issued an executive order prohibiting evictions and foreclosures due to lack of payment through July 10.

"It’s crucial that we get this help to the people who need it, particularly as we approach the July 10 deadline," said Lt. Gov. John Fetterman.

Fetterman is chairman of Wolf’s Task Force on Health Disparity. The task force identified housing insecurity as a top concern among the state’s marginalized populations.

"Many people, through no fault of their own, are finding themselves and their families in jeopardy of losing their housing," Fetterman said. "In addition to the immeasurable stress this instability places on people at a time when so much is uncertain, we cannot rebuild a strong economy while people are in danger of being homeless."

The rent relief program requires applicants to show they became unemployed after March 1 due to the coronavirus outbreak or had their annual income decreased at least 30 percent by it. They'll have to show proof of income, the number of people living with them and other information.

The homeowner application requires similar information, including showing that their mortgage payment is at least 30 days late, a copy of their deed and verification that the home is their primary residence. They must submit information about their mortgage, employment info and any other sources of income.

Unemployment in Pennsylvania skyrocketed as the coronavirus outbreak hit the state. It spiked to 16.1 percent in April and remained at 13.1 percent in May — more than double the state's unemployment rate in March, when it was 6 percent.

The housing agency may be reached at 1-855-U-Are-Home (827-3466) from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on weekdays to answer questions about the programs. Callers should listen for the prompt that mentions CARES assistance for renters ad homeowners.

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