Montgomery County has now distributed more than $100 million in emergency rental and utility assistance to about 8,300 households in need during the COVID-19 pandemic. Montgomery County’s Office of Housing and Community Development has administered the funds — allocated by Congress in 2021 to provide much needed assistance to renters dealing with financial challenges — through the Emergency Rent and Utilities Coalition (ERUC), a group of local nonprofits.
The aid, provided since March 2021 under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act, targeted those most in need, with 72% of households served making under 30% of the Area Median Income. The top municipalities served included Norristown, East Norriton, Pottstown, King of Prussia, Elkins Park, and Lansdale.
“These funds were crucial to stabilizing housing for people affected by COVID-19 and averting a higher wave of evictions during the pandemic” said Kayleigh Silver, Administrator for the Office of Housing and Community Development. “The pandemic has shown us that having stable and safe homes is crucial to health outcomes. The dedicated efforts by our partners to distribute these funds quickly and effectively have assisted thousands of families facing urgent need in Montgomery County.”
“The pandemic changed all of our lives but none more so than our lowest income families,” said Montgomery County Commissioners' Chair Kenneth E. Lawrence Jr. “I am extremely grateful for the tremendous efforts of our county staff and to the many community-based organizations that helped get this money to where it was needed, keeping people in their homes. This was a case of all levels of government and our nonprofit community working together to deliver for our most vulnerable citizens.”
Emergency Rent and Utilities Coalition providers stopped accepting new applications on April 1 of this year. Until funding is depleted, ERUC said they will continue to serve applicants, including households at immediate risk of eviction, those with utility shut-off notices, and those who have been wait-listed.
If you are a renter living in Montgomery County and are facing formal eviction or utility shut-off stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, you may still be eligible for help. Please contact 211 for assistance. For any questions about the program, email [email protected].
The ERUC program in Montgomery County was administrated through a partnership with the Montgomery County PA-504 Continuum of Care (CoC) and Your Way Home partners, including ACLAMO, Family Services of Montgomery County, Manna on Main Street, YWCA Tri-County Area, CADCOM, and Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities.
The precise amount distributed as of June 1 was $100,048,848.80.
