You are reading

Applications for New York State Rent Relief Program Reopen

iStock

Dec. 22, 2020 By Allie Griffin

New Yorkers who are struggling to pay their rent as a result of coronavirus-related layoffs or pay cuts can now apply for a rental relief grant–once again.

Governor Andrew Cuomo opened applications for the “COVID Rent Relief Program,” which provides a one-time payment of rental assistance directly to a person’s landlord, for a second time last Friday.

He announced earlier this month that the state would reopen the application window and expand the program’s eligibility so more rent relief can be provided to New Yorkers.

The program first opened in mid July and closed after about three weeks. Queens residents received a total of $6,291,940 in subsidies through the first round, with the average subsidy per person equaling $2,561.

The second application period runs from Dec. 18 through Feb. 1 and previous applicants do not need to reapply. The state will re-evaluate all past applications based on the new criteria.

The grants will cover the difference between a households’ rent burden on March 1 and the increase in rent burden for the months the household is applying for assistance.

For example, tenants who were allocating 35 percent of their monthly income toward rent on March 1–and have since lost their jobs– might now be shelling out 50 percent of their monthly income just to cover rent. The grant program will cover the increase to bring tenants back down to paying 35 percent of their monthly income to rent.

The grant program uses March 1 as the baseline marker, since this was the last month most people were able to pay their rent.

Tenants can choose to apply the grant money to missed payments, beginning with April rent, or to future payments. They do not need to pay the money back to the state.

Eligible households with the greatest economic and social need will be prioritized for the rental subsidies.

To be eligible for the program, tenants must meet all of the following criteria —

They must be a renter and have a primary residence in New York State.

They must have lost income sometime from April 1, 2020 to July 31, 2020.

Before March 7, 2020, their household income must have been at 80 percent of the area median income in their county or less — adjusted for household size.

They must be “rent burdened” — meaning they are paying more than 30 percent of their gross monthly income for rent — during the months they are applying for assistance.

People who live with roommates can either apply to the grant program alone for just their portion of monthly rent or as a household for the full monthly rent.

email the author: news@queenspost.com
No comments yet

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.


The reCAPTCHA verification period has expired. Please reload the page.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent News

Ozone Park man indicted for kidnapping and assault of 11-year-old girl in Forest Park: DA

A Queens grand jury indicted an Ozone Park man for abducting an 11-year-old girl in Forest Park and sexually assaulting her before the victim’s father intervened in May.

Teddy Moussignac, 44, of 102nd Street, was arraigned Friday in Queens Supreme Court on a seven-count indictment charging him with kidnapping, assault, two counts of sexual assault in the first degree, and other related crimes.

Western Queens lawmakers back DOT’s 31st Street bike lane redesign

June 13, 2025 By Shane O’Brien

State Senator Kristen Gonzalez, Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas and Council Member Tiffany Cabán issued a joint statement voicing strong support for the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) proposed redesign of 31st Street in Astoria, which includes the installation of eight-foot-wide protected bike lanes beneath the elevated N/W subway tracks.

Long-haired gunman sought after man shot in leg on Sutphin Boulevard in Jamaica: NYPD

Police from the 113th Precinct in Jamaica are looking for a nefarious-looking gunman who shot a man in front of an apartment building at 121-02 Sutphin Blvd. on the night of Tuesday, June 10.

The 29-year-old victim was in front of the building at around 7 p.m. when a stranger discharged a firearm, striking him in the right leg, police said Thursday. The victim traveled by private means to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, where he was listed in stable condition. The gunman fled the location on foot southbound on Sutphin Boulevard toward Rockaway Boulevard.