The St. Lawrence County Planning Office is encouraging local residents to apply for the state Office of Homes and Community Renewal COVID-19 Rental Relief Program.

The COVID Rent Relief Program will provide income-eligible households with a one-time rental subsidy that will be sent directly to the household’s landlord. Applicants will not need to repay this assistance.

Applications will be accepted throughout the two-week application period ending July 30.

HCR will prioritize eligible households with “greatest economic and social need,” accounting for income, rent burden, percent of income lost and risk of homelessness, according to the St. Lawrence County Planning Department.

Eligibility requirements include:

• Before March 1, 2020 and at the time of application, household income must have been below 80% of the area median income, adjusted for household size. You can find your county’s area median income, based on your household size: www.hcr.ny.gov/eligible-income-limits-80-ami-county .

• Before March 1, 2020 and at the time of application, the household must have been paying more than 30% of gross monthly income towards rent. Gross income includes wages as well as any cash grants, child support, social security, unemployment benefits, etc.)

• Applicants have less monthly income in any month between April 2020 and July 2020 than they did prior to March 1, 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

HCR has created a dedicated call center to provide residents with help Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. Call the COVID Rent Relief Program Call Center at 1-833-499-0318 or email at covidrentrelief@hcr.ny.gov

For more information or to fill out the application go to: https://hcr.ny.gov/RRP

The application period will be open through July 30.

People can contact:

Jason Pfotenhauer, Director

St. Lawrence County Planning Office

48 Court Street, Canton NY 13617

315-379-2292

jpfotenhauer@stlawco.org