Centre County Receives More Than $10 Million for Rental Assistance Program

As the community continues to feel the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Centre County has $10,680,110.74 in federal funds from the Emergency Rental Assistance Program ready to distribute.

The program provides rent and utility assistance to those impacted by the pandemic in Centre County.

The funds come from the second federal pandemic stimulus package. It represents the largest single grant ever administered by Centre County government.

“Up to this point, the largest single grant administered by the Centre County government was the $5.5 million that we sent to our small businesses last year. This grant, if we award most of it, if not all of it, will now be the largest single grant in Centre County history,” said Commissioner Mark Higgins. He added this grant is more flexible than the original rent relief program that went into effect last year through CARES funding, which closed at the end of 2020.

“There are no caps on rent and there are no caps on the amount of the utilities,” he said.

The county is working to provide a program that will manage the large funds and the high call volume expected, said Faith Ryan, Centre County director of adult services.

The funding is available to pay for rent in arrears and up to three months of future rent for those impacted by the pandemic, Ryan said, noting that after three months, participants would need to reapply. The funding can also be applied to utilities payments.

The funding can be used for payment dating as far back as March 2020 and is available for a total of 12 months. The program will run until the end of 2021.

“It is important to note that we have to help them with their arrears or their unpaid rent and utilities before helping with anything in the future,” said Ryan.

Households that found other ways to pay rent and utilities, such as credit cards or savings, cannot receive reimbursement of those payments, said Ryan.

“But we can certainly look to helping them in the future,” she said.

Agreeing with Higgins, Ryan said a highlight to the program is there is no cap on the amount of help a household can receive, which differs from the previous rent relief program.

The income limit is 80 percent of the median area income. For Centre County, this equates to $49,700 for a one-person household and $70,950 for a four-person household. Participant must prove they were affected by the pandemic.

The county will use the same website for the program that was utilized for the CARES rent relief program at centrecountypa.gov/2191/Emergency-Rental-Assistance-Program

Ryan said the site will be updated as more information is available.

“For individuals in the community and our neighbors who might be able to apply for this, we are eager to start, but we ask for some patience as we work out some of the final administrative and technical aspects of this,” said board Chairman Michael Pipe.

The commissioners also approved a contract with Service Access and Management Inc. to provide administrative service assistance and housing stability services for the program.