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Eligible Carbon County residents in need of housing assistance have a chance to receive help.
Allentown, PA, September 3, 2024 – United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley announces partnership with Carbon County to administer Emergency Rental Assistance Program funds to eligible households in need of assistance. Applications for the program are available to Carbon County renters starting September 3, 2024.
“The data tells us that up to 46% of all households in Carbon County continue to struggle to make ends meet and 34% can’t afford basic needs such as food and stable housing. We remain committed to helping people access the critical resources they need today, while working to develop the long-term solutions that will ultimately build a stronger community,” said Marci Lesko, Chief Executive Officer, United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley.
Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) is a county-administered program that offers rental assistance and housing stability services to individuals and families experiencing or at-risk for homelessness due, directly or indirectly, to the COVID-19 pandemic. It aims to mitigate the effects of homelessness on families and individuals impacted by the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. This is accomplished by providing eligible families and individuals with financial assistance for rent, rental arrears, utilities and home energy costs and other expenses related to housing.
ERAP helps Carbon County tenant households with paying rent, past-due rent balances (also known as arrears), utility and home energy costs, utility and home energy cost arrears and other expenses related to housing.
Carbon County residents can apply for themselves as tenants, or a landlord can apply on behalf of current tenant(s).
A household must be responsible to pay rent on a residential property, and:
- One or more people within the household have qualified for unemployment benefits, had a decrease in income, had increased household costs or experienced other financial hardship due, directly or indirectly, to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- One or more individuals in the household can show a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability, AND
- The household has an income at or below 80 percent of Area Median Income (AMI).
United Way will start accepting online applications on September 3, 2024 at unitedwayglv.org/carbon-erap. In late September, one-on-one assistance will be available by calling 2-1-1. For the fastest possible service, we recommend applying online. United Way will prioritize processing applications for households who meet one or more of the following criteria:
- Households with income below 50% Average Median Income (AMI).
- Households with a current eviction notice and/or utility shut-off notice.
- Households with an adult who has been unemployed for 90 or more days preceding the date of application.
“We are proud to partner with Carbon County to ensure that housing support reaches those in need as efficiently and effectively as possible. Our goal is to make sure families can quickly access the assistance they deserve, securing stable homes and a brighter future,” stated Gina Nichols, Director of Family Stability, United Way.
The application link, along with eligibility criteria and other program information can be found on United Way’s website at unitedwayglv.org/carbon-erap. Any person or organization with questions related to ERAP is encouraged to contact our United Way ERAP team at erapcarbon@unitedwayglv.org.
About United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley
United Way fights for the health, safety and education of every person in the Greater Lehigh Valley and envisions communities where every person belongs and every person thrives. We strive to achieve this goal by assessing community needs, raising funds, investing in solutions and mobilizing our community to action. For more information, visit www.UnitedWayGLV.org.
Information provided to TVL by:
Laura McHugh
United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley
