NEW YORK STATE EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (ERAP) | NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF TEMPORARY AND DISABILITY ASSISTANCE
40 North Pearl Street, Albany, NY 12243
Eligibility
Residents in any part of New York state and its counties/towns, who have not spent their allocated ERAP funds and with household income over 80 percent and up to 120 percent of area median income, can still apply for state-funded emergency rental assistance.
Applications from subsidized housing tenants whose rent is limited to a certain percentage of
income (including public housing, section 8, and FHEPS) cannot be paid.
Household income at or below 80 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI). These income
limits differ by county and household size. Must not have received ERAP assistance in the last
12 months. A household may qualify based on current or calendar year 2020 income at or
below 80 percent AMI.
On or after March 13, 2020, a household member received unemployment benefits,
experienced a reduction in income, incurred significant costs, or experienced financial
hardship, directly or indirectly, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The household must be at risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability, which can
be demonstrated by having rental arrears owed on or after March 13, 2020.
There are no immigration status requirements to qualify for the program.
Households eligible for rental arrears may also be eligible for help paying utility arrears at the
same rental unit.
Required documents
Renters will need to provide:
Personal identification, Social Security number, proof of rent amount, proof of residency and
occupancy, proof of income, and copy of utility bill. If no documentation is available, landlord attestation will be accepted.
OR
Documents demonstrating annual income for 2020, such as a W-2 tax form from an employer, an annual statement of earnings, or a copy of a completed income tax return, such as a 1040, 1040EZ, 1099 tax form, or other evidence of 2020 annual income.
Self-attestation of income is permitted in certain circumstances where no documentation is available such as certain self-employment. Copy of gas or electric utility bill, if applying for help paying for utility arrears at the same rental unit.
(844) 691-7368
Voice
Application process
Apply for ERAP online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: https://nysrenthelp.otda.ny.gov/en
Fees
No fee.
Service area
Suffolk, NY
Nassau, NY
The OTDA ERAP portal is only open to residents of counties/towns who have not spent their allocated ERAP funds. Suffolk and Nassau County residents are still eligible to apply with the exception of the Towns of Brookhaven and Babylon residents. Town of Islip, Hempstead, and Oyster Bay have a separate portal where residents can apply. Please note, households in any part of the state with income over 80 percent and up to 120 percent of area median income can still apply for state-funded emergency rental assistance. Although the eviction moratorium has been extended in New York until January 15, 2021, Long Island residents with rental and utility arrears should apply now for assistance before the funds run out. If you receive a decision on your ERAP application that you disagree with, make sure to appeal within thirty (30) days by calling 844-691-7368 or filling out the online form linked here https://nysrenthelp.otda.ny.gov/en/ . To apply and determine eligibility, visit the OTDA website here.
Three communities on Long Island received funding for emergency rental assistance directly from the federal government opted to administer their own programs. Residents of the towns of Hempstead, Islip and Oyster Bay must apply with their local programs for emergency rental assistance and are ineligible for assistance from the state-administered Emergency Rental Assistance Program.
Providing organization
NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF TEMPORARY AND DISABILITY ASSISTANCE