New City, NY, – County Executive Ed Day and Department of Social Services Commissioner Joan Silvestri announce Rockland will receive a $9.6 million grant from the US Department of the Treasury as part of the CARES Act Emergency Rental Assistance program.
“We know residents have lost their jobs, had their hours cut or been forced to leave jobs due to childcare needs during the pandemic. This funding will help fill in the gaps for Rockland residents who are struggling to pay their rent and utility bills. We will continue to do everything in our power to help residents weather this storm,” said County Executive Day.
Funds from this program will be paid directly to landlords on behalf of tenants who have experienced unemployment or a reduction in household income; or incurred significant costs, or experienced other financial hardship due directly or indirectly to the COVID-19 pandemic. The tenant must also demonstrate a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability and demonstrate the household income does not exceed 80% of Area Median Income (AMI).
“We are continuing to receive program guidance from the federal government and are working with our state partners to establish an online portal for applying for the much-needed funds. In order to disseminate application details as timely as possible, we encourage tenants and landlords to complete our contact forms so we can share the latest information with you directly,” said Commissioner Silvestri.
The Rockland County Department of Social Services has received an allotment of funds from the U.S Department of Treasury for rent and utility arrears; and rent and utility assistance, to be paid to landlords on behalf of persons who have experienced unemployment or a reduction in household income; or incurred significant costs, or experienced other financial hardship due directly or indirectly to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The program goal is to stabilize housing by minimizing homelessness and prevent housing loss for Rockland County tenants.
If you are a Tenant and wish to be informed when program updates are available, please complete the Tenant Contact Form and you will receive by email and/or text messages all future information.
If you are a Landlord who has tenants that may have experienced financial hardship, due directly or indirectly to the COVID-19 pandemic, and are in arrears on their rent, please complete the Landlord Contact Form and updates on the program will be emailed to you as they become available.
The Rockland County Department of Social Services will also be utilizing contact information collected through the Rockland County Department of Health’s Multiple Dwelling Rental Registry to distribute information about this program to landlords.
REMINDER – Under Rockland County Sanitary Code, Article XIII, Section 13.8.1. All multiple dwellings with three (3) or more rental units and all rooming houses must register and obtain a Multiple Dwelling Rental Certificate. Information for landlords on how to register and obtain a Multiple Dwelling Rental Certificate is available here.