The New York State Division of Homes and Community Renewal has reopened the COVID Rent Relief Program and will be accepting new applications through Monday, Feb 1.
If approved, applicants will receive a subsidy for the difference between a household’s rent burden on March 1, 2020 and the household’s rent burden in the months of April, May, June and July 2020. The subsidy is a one-time payment available for a maximum of four months of rent, up to 125% of the Fair Market Rents for that household’s area. HCR will send payments directly to the applicant’s landlord.
The program’s eligibility criteria have been expanded to provide rent relief to more New Yorkers. Individuals who applied during the previous application window and were denied, do not need to apply again. Those applications are being reviewed again. Additionally, applications from individuals who have not received a response from HCR are being reviewed under the new criteria.
Go to https://hcr.ny.gov/RRP for more information and to apply.