New York State's Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) provides financial assistance to landlords and tenants who have experienced financial hardship due to COVID-19. The program provides:
- up to 12 months rental arrears payments for rents accrued on or after March 13, 2020
- up to three months of additional rental assistance if the household is expected to spend 30 percent or more of their gross monthly income to pay for rent
- up to 12-months of electric or gas utility arrears payments for arrears that have accrued on or after March 13, 2020
Applicants can file directly with New York State to receive financial assistance or work through one of the County's nonprofit partners listed below or select DSS offices to receive application assistance. The program is accepting applications as of June 1, 2021 on a first-come, first-served basis. A full list of eligibility criteria is listed on the State's website.
Frequently Asked Questions - English
Frequently Asked Questions - Spanish
Nonprofit Regional Assignments
Emergency Rental Assistance Program Regional Assignments
Bronx River Communities
- Community Housing Innovations – (914) 683-1010
- Hope Community Services - (914) 636-4010
- Mount Vernon United Tenants – (914) 699-1114
- Westchester Residential Opportunities – (914) 428-4507
Central Westchester Communities
- El Centro HIspano – (914) 289-0500
- Salvation Army – (914) 949-2908
County- Wide
- Hudson Valley Justice Center – (914) 308-3490
Hudson River Communities
- Catholic Charities of New York – (888) 744-7900
- Keeping Communities Safe – (914) 873-4900
Long Island Sound Communities
- Community Resource Center – (914) 835-1512
- Human Development Services of Westchester – (914) 939-2005
Mount Vernon
- Legal Services of the Hudson Valley - (914) 949-1305
Northeastern Westchester Communities
- Neighbors Link – (914) 666-3410
The Westchester County Department of Planning is offering 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 currently available:
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.