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Dear Neighbors,

Tenants with legal and/or housing court-related questions are warmly invited to join us for our October Housing Clinic this Wednesday, October 6th, from 6 to 7pm. Our topic this month is: getting repairs done safely during the pandemic.
* The clinic will be conducted via Zoom. To register and receive Zoom event info -- please click here ([link removed]) . Do not click on the flyer below.
* You can submit questions in advance when you register, and questions will also be taken during the event via Zoom's chat function. The presentation will be led by TakeRoot Justice.

Important News for Tenants

The NYS Eviction Moratorium has been extended to January 15th, 2022.

Important: tenants can still be evicted in certain cases. Read our overview of the moratorium here. ([link removed])

Tenants facing eviction must submit a declaration of pandemic-related hardship. Landlords can challenge these declarations in certain cases. Visit Eviction Free NY ([link removed]) to learn more and use their online tool which automatically sends the hardship declaration to housing court, and your landlord, at no cost.

Tenants whose eviction cases are scheduled for appearance in Housing Court --including hearings about Hardship Declarations-- have access to free legal services, regardless of ZIP code, under NYC’s right-to-counsel law.
* Call 311 and ask for the Tenant Helpline
* Visit the NYC Human Resources Administration’s Office of Civil Justice online at www.nyc.gov/civiljustice
* Call Housing Court Answers at (718) 557-1379
* Find additional free legal services on our website ([link removed]) , by looking under "Housing"

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NYS Emergency Rental Assistance (ERAP)
Eligible tenants may seek up to 12 months of rental and utility arrears assistance, as well as three prospective months of rent, via the COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP). Click here ([link removed]) to learn about eligibility and apply.
* Tenants are eligible to apply for ERAP regardless of immigration status if their household income is below 80% of "area median income," which you can look up here ([link removed]) .
* Either a landlord or tenant may initiate an ERAP application. All applications require documentation from both the landlord and tenant to be deemed complete and to be reviewed for payment of arrears and other expenses.
* Click here for guidance ([link removed]) in cases when the application is initiated by the tenant and a landlord does not or refuses to provide necessary information.

NYCHA residents no longer have to fill out the ERAP application – they can authorize NYCHA to apply for ERAP on their behalf via NYCHA's online portal ([link removed]) . Detailed instructions for the portal are available here ([link removed]) , or please contact your property management office for assistance.

NYCHA residents who have already submitted an ERAP application should email their ERAP application number, along with their first name, last name, date of birth, development name, and their nine-digit account number, to [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) so NYCHA can complete the application with the State.

For assistance with the ERAP application: call New York State at 844-NY1-RENT (844-691-7368; or the TTY phone number, 833-843-8829, for the hearing impaired).

If you live in Manhattan, the two organizations below are designated ERAP "enrollers" and can also provide assistance.
* Call Catholic Charities Community Services at 888-744-7900. Click here ([link removed]) for detailed information about how Catholic Charities can assist you, as well as important application checklists for tenants and landlords.
* Call University Settlement at 212-453-4500.

Application Tips: TakeRoot Justice has prepared a very helpful:
* Info sheet with ERAP application tips ([link removed]) ; and a
* Worksheet with a list of questions that tenant applicants can fill out ahead of time ([link removed]) in order to complete the ERAP application in one sitting.

Other ERAP Resources
* Older adults and persons with disabilities can contact LiveOn NY for assistance with the ERAP application. Phone (212) 398-5045 or email [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) .
* Met Council is assisting constituents with the ERAP application. Learn more here ([link removed]) .
* West Side Campaign Against Hunger is answering questions about the ERAP application. Contact them here ([link removed]) .
* The NY Legal Assistance Group is answering questions about the ERAP application. Contact them here ([link removed]) .

We're Here to Help
My office assists people with housing issues, seniors, the disabled, the recently un (or under) employed, the food insecure, and all those suffering the many consequences of this pandemic, to help in any way we can.

Please call (212) 873-0282, leave a message and we will call you back as soon as possible; email [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) ; or check our website, HelenRosenthal.com ([link removed]) . We update it on a regular basis with information about public benefits, non-profit resources, and health facts Upper West Siders have needed to get through this crisis.

Warmly,

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