MORE TIME: New York State COVID Rent Relief Application Extended to February 1st – By Brian Harrod

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The New York State Legislature established this program to help households experiencing an increase in their rent burden due to a loss of income during the COVID-19 crisis. Governor Andrew Cuomo expanded the eligibility criteria and extended the application period.

The deadline for renters to apply for help under the New York State COVID Rent Relief Program has been extended to February 1, 2021 and eligibility has been expanded.

The program provides eligible households with a one-time rental subsidy that will be sent directly to the household’s landlord. Applicants will not need to repay this assistance.

Previous Applicants for COVID Rent Relief will not have to reapply to be reconsidered.  Using the new criteria, New York State Home and Community Renewal will re-evaluate all previous applications who were denied and issue revised determination letters to applicants.

For the next round of applications, tenants will have to meet all of the following criteria:

  • Must be a renter and have a primary residence in New York State;
  • Applicants must have lost income during the period of April 1, 2020 to July 31, 2020;
  • Before March 7, 2020, household income must have been at or below 80% of the Area Median Income, adjusted for household size; and
  • Households must be “rent burdened” during the months they are applying for assistance between April 1, 2020 to July 31, 2020.

For help, applicants can contact HCR’s COVID Rent Relief Extension Program Call Center for assistance at 1-833-499-0318 or covidrentrelief@hcr.ny.gov. Call Center representatives are available Monday through Friday 8:30am – 5:00pm.

Call Center staff are available to assist residents in filling out the application over the phone.

To access applications online and for further information visit https://hcr.ny.gov/RRP.