SIDEBAR SPRING 2021 - 15

MONTGOMERYBAR.ORG

In Pennsylvania, nearly 22% of renters are behind on rent, and of those, more than
45% feel it is very or somewhat likely they will be evicted in the next two months, according
to a Feb. 18 report from the American Public Media Research Lab. Nationally, " Among
Black renters, 46% have no or slight confidence in making rent-2.2 times as likely as
White renters-and 44% of Latino renters respond the same. "
- " America's Renter Eviction Crisis, by the Numbers, " APM Research Lab, Feb. 18, 2021 (http://bit.ly/3kocdgN)
-U.S. Census Bureau Household Pulse Survey, Week 22. Jan. 6-18, 2021
(https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/household-pulse-survey/data.html)

Staff with the EPIC program meet with tenants to get
information about lease and rent payment history, and a copy of
the lease, if possible. Dempsky explained eligibility requirements
to receive assistance through EPIC:
1. Tenant(s) must be at or below 50% Adjusted Median
Income (AMI) for their municipality.
2. The rent relief and tenant contribution must satisfy the
accrued rent, utilities, late fees, filing fees, and attorney/legal
fees (if any) in full. (LASP services are free to clients.)
3. Tenant(s) must have sufficient income to pay ongoing rent
and utilities following settlement. (The subsidy is intended to
stabilize housing).
4. Tenant(s) cannot have received EPIC assistance for 12
months prior.
5. Landlord must agree to participate with the program.
6. 	

Tenant(s) must intend to remain at the property.

Emergency Rent & Utility Coalition
Montgomery County's new Emergency Rent and Utility
Coalition (ERUC) provides financial assistance for rent and
utilities. To apply, contact Your Way Home by dialing 2-1-1 or
texting your zip code to 898-211. Or a household can directly
contact one of the partner agencies:
* ACLAMO Family Centers
www.aclamo.org
610-277-2570 (Norristown area)
or 610-970-2134 (Pottstown area)
* Community Action Development Commission
(CADCOM)
www.cadcom.org
* Family Services of Montgomery County
www.fsmontco.org
email ERU@fsmontco.org
610-630-2111, ext. 235
* Manna on Main Street
www.mannaonmain.org/need-help/getting-help
215-855-5454
* Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities
www.pottstowncluster.org
484-393-5441

For a household to be eligible for the ERUC program, you
must meet these requirements:
1. Household must reside in Montgomery County at the time
of application, AND
2. One or more individuals in the household has qualified
for unemployment benefits or experienced a reduction in
household income, incurred significant costs, or experienced
other financial hardship due, directly or indirectly, to the
COVID-19 pandemic, AND
3. The household can demonstrate a risk of homelessness or
housing instability, AND
4. Household must be at or below 80% of Area Median
Income at the time of application.
a.	Income eligibility will be based on average gross income
over the 30 days preceding the time of assistance.
i. Income includes earned income, child support,
welfare benefits, SSI, SSDI, unemployment income,
workman's comp, pension/investments/401K.
ii. 80% Area Median Income is as follows:
> 1 person: $54,150
> 2 persons: $61,850
> 3 persons: $69,600
> 4 persons: $77,300
> 5 persons: $83,500
> 6 persons: $89,700
> 7 persons: $95,900
> 8 persons: $102,050
Households can receive up to 12 months' worth of rental or
utility assistance, dating back to March 13, 2020. Prospective
rent payments may also be available to qualifying households.
For more information, visit www.yourwayhome.org/eruc.
Note: Additional rent and utility assistance programs are being
developed in individual communities in Montgomery County,
including Norristown and Lansdale. Check with your local
municipality.

* YWCA of Montgomery County
www.ywcatricountyarea.org
SPRING 2021 15

http://montgomerybar.org http://www.bit.ly/3kocdgN https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/household-pulse-survey/data.html http://www.aclamo.org http://www.cadcom.org http://www.fsmontco.org http://www.yourwayhome.org/eruc http://www.mannaonmain.org/need-help/getting-help http://www.pottstowncluster.org http://www.ywcatricountyarea.org

SIDEBAR SPRING 2021

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