The Westchester County Department of Planning is offering four new Housing Stabilization programs to assist households whose ability to pay their housing costs has been upended by COVID-19. There are different programs to assist different needs. Participants in each program must attest to the fact that they have not or will not receive any other assistance to help pay their housing costs. No duplication of benefits is allowed.
The programs, while broad in nature to assist as many households as possible, are each limited in some regard – either by the municipality the housing unit must be in, or the limit on the household income, or the size of the total development. This is generally due to the nature of the funding source or the amount of funds available for the program.
The Housing Stabilization Programs now available are described below.
Eviction Prevention for Landlords
Program can provide up to 75 percent of back rent for up to eight months of rental assistance for landlords who can demonstrate tenants were up to date for March, but have not been able to pay their rent due to COVID. Can assist owners of buildings with between three and 50 units; would be done by lottery to establish order for assistance. Assistance available through County Planning. Applications available Sept. 17, 2020 and must be postmarked or delivered no later than Thursday, Oct. 15, 2020 to be in the lottery. Applications received after Oct. 15, 2020 will be reviewed on a first come, first served basis.
Program Fact Sheet (English)
Program Fact Sheet (Spanish)
Application (English)
Application (Spanish)
Eviction Prevention in Consortium Communities
Program can provide up to four months of rental or utility arrears for tenants facing eviction or shut-off and can demonstrate COVID-19 as the reason. Tenants must be within 21 days of eviction and must demonstrate ability to pay their rent and utilities going forward. Available for households earning up to 50 percent AMI.
Member municipalities of the Westchester Urban County Consortium:
(outside the Village of Larchmont)
Assistance available through four nonprofit agencies:
Choice of New Rochelle – (914) 576-0173
Community Housing Innovations – (914) 683-1010
Washingtonville Housing Alliance – (914) 698-2878
Westchester Residential Opportunities – (914) 428-4507
Foreclosure Prevention
Program can provide up to four months of mortgage/cooperative arrears for those who can demonstrate COVID-19 as the reason and that they were up to date on their mortgages as of March 2020. WRO, CHI, The Bridge Fund and HDSW.
Assistance to be available through four nonprofits agencies:
The Bridge Fund of Westchester – (914) 949-8146
Community Housing Innovations – (914) 683-1010
Human Development Services of Westchester – (914) 939-2878
Westchester Residential Opportunities – (914) 428-4507
Medium-Term Rental Assistance
Program can provide up to 12 months of rental assistance for households in Westchester Urban County Consortium municipalities, as listed below, impacted by COVID-19 with a priority for households whose jobs were in Phase Four or who worked for a business that no longer exists or a job in any Phase of NYS Reopening that no longer exists. The program is modeled on the Section 8/Housing Choice Voucher program. Assistance will be provided through the County Planning Department. Available for households earning up to 50 percent AMI. Applications available Sept. 17, 2020 and must be postmarked or delivered no later than Thursday, Oct. 15, 2020 to be in the lottery. Applications received after Oct. 15, 2020 will be reviewed on a first come, first served basis.
Application (English)
Application (Spanish)
Member municipalities of the Westchester Urban County Consortium:
(outside the Village of Larchmont)
New York State myBenefits
myBenefits is an online tool for New York State residents. Users can check possible eligibility for multiple human services benefit programs; apply online for the Public Assistance Program (PA); Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP); recertify for SNAP or Public Assistance; Report Changes; and View Case Details. Apply online today at myBenefits. Under New Users click apply for Public Assistance.