The Lebanon County Coalition to End Homelessness has announced the opening of a new rent and utility financial relief assistance program for Lebanon County residents.
The program offers assistance to applicants seeking some of the more than $800,000 available in funding from state and federal sources. Applicants may apply directly to the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency CARES Rent Relief Program. The paperwork can be found at this link, under “COVID-19 Financial Resources.”
The program is still active despite the state government’s withholding of the $12.8 million CARES Act funding for the county, which was initially set aside businesses, municipalities, and other organizations. Unemployment and/or income reduction are among the eligibility criteria for the program; applicants do not need to have a diagnosis of COVID-19 to be eligible.
Completed applications for the program may be mailed or dropped off at the Homeless Coalition’s address at 503 Oak Street in Lebanon, or emailed to cap@lebcnty.org.
The Homeless Coalition also provides assistance for the application process, which requires applicants to submit information on monthly income, number of household members, landlords, and rent and utility payments, along with contact information. Within 7-10 business days, a representative will contact the assistance applicant to help determine their eligibility for the program.
The assistance application can be found here, and there is no set deadline so long as there are funds available. Applications can also be made over the phone to (717) 273-1630 and inquiries about eligibility for other relief programs are also welcome.
The program is a partnership between the Homeless Coalition, Lebanon
County Christian Ministries, Community Action Partnership, and the Housing Authority. In a press release, Homeless Coalition co-chair Jocelyn Stakem stated that “[k]eeping people in their homes is critical during this crisis.”
Read all of LebTown’s COVID-19 coverage here.
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