BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The acting head of the state’s Department of Human Services, Meg Snead, visited Bethlehem on Wednesday to detail a billion-dollar federal program to help renters in counties with substantial or high levels of transmission of COVID-19, like Northampton County.
She said a survey from the US census bureau found more than 225,000 Pennsylvanians worry they could be evicted within the next two months.
Even with theCDC holding off evictions until Oct. 3, she said that families need the support from the new influx of money into the Emergency Rental Assistance Program or ERAP.
“We know that the need is tremendous throughout the commonwealth,” she said. “Tens of thousands of Pennsylvanians have been forced to choose between putting food on the table, paying for childcare and paying rent to keep their families safe at home.”
Last year, for a number of reasons, renters missed out on millions from a federal coronavirus relief program.
Snead said it’s now easier to get funds to those in need.
“Not only did the feds give us a lot more flexibility with how ERAP can be distributed, but the state legislature did as well,” she said.
As of June 30, Snead said, about $133 million has been delivered to about 30,000 families through ERAP.
To learn more, or apply for ERAP funding, visit the ERAP website.
