Information for Homeowners, Tenants, and Landlords
Need Help with Housing Costs?
Rental Assistance for Tenants and Landlords
Due to the Pandemic, many residents are struggling with financial hardships. In response, Congress has passed $46 billion in emergency rental assistance, and our communities have programs distributing this funding now. If you are seeking emergency rental, utility, or mortgage assistance, please refer to the following local programs:
- Montgomery County: residents who have experienced a COVID hardship and are in need of rent and/or utility assistance should call 2-1-1 or text their zip code to 898-211. They can also visit Your Way Home to learn more.
- Norristown Mortgage, and Utility Assistance - Home Improvement Program (ERMUA)
- Berks County: Contact the Berks County Coalition to End Homelessness at 610-372-7222 or visit the Berks county website at here.
If you are facing eviction, you can locate legal aid organizations through the Legal Aid of Southeastern PA or information on eviction prevention from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau here.
Mortgage Assistance
Pennsylvania has received $350 million through the federal Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) to help homeowners struggling with mortgage payments due to the pandemic. On January 6th, the Pennsylvania Homeowner Assistance Fund, or PAHAF, announced that it will be accepting applications for mortgage assistance beginning February 1.
When PAHAF applications become available Feb. 1, it will be possible to complete them entirely online, eliminating the need for paper submissions and simplifying the process for applicants. For those who may need in-person assistance with their applications, housing counseling agencies and legal service providers across the state will be available to help. Homeowners can learn about PAHAF and see a list of organizations that can assist them by visiting www.pahaf.org or by calling the PAHAF call center at 888-987-2423. The call center will be open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
To qualify for this assistance, eligible Pennsylvania homeowners must have experienced a reduction of income or increase in living expenses due to the COVID-19 pandemic after January 21, 2020 (including a hardship that began before January 21, 2020 but continued after that date). They also must currently own and occupy their home in Pennsylvania as their primary residence. In addition, the program has specific income requirements to be eligible. To see the full list of eligibility requirements, visit https://pahaf.org/am-i-eligible/.
Available PAHAF assistance programs include mortgage reinstatement assistance, forward mortgage payment assistance, assistance related to housing property charges and utility payment assistance to avoid displacement. Funds will be distributed directly to mortgage lenders, servicers, utility providers and other authorized third parties, not to homeowners.
Homeowners and other interested parties are encouraged to visit www.pahaf.org to explore PAHAF resources and information.
Homelessness
The Your Way Home (YWH) Call Center is a centralized system for screening and intake for individuals and families in Montgomery County experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, homelessness.
Instead of calling individual shelters, those experiencing homelessness or those at-risk of becoming homeless can call one toll-free number and connected to appropriate services.
Calls to the Center are answered by operators at 2-1-1 SEPA, which has access to up-to-date data about which providers have space available, if the caller needs emergency shelter.
DIAL 2-1-1 or 1-866-964-7925 TEXT 898-211 VISIT www.211SEPA.org
