Millions In Emergency Rent Funds Available To Bucks Co. Residents

BUCKS COUNTY, PA — State and county officials held a news conference Tuesday to urge qualified Bucks residents and landlords to apply for rental assistance out of the more than $40 million available countywide.

State and local officials feel that awareness of the program is a significant barrier to those who incurred financial losses during the pandemic seeking necessary aid. Jeffrey Fields, director of Bucks County’s Department of Housing and Community Development, said there is essentially no wait list right now for funds.

“I can’t stress enough the historical investment this is in our communities,” Acting Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Meg Snead said at a news conference in Doylestown. “We want every one of those dollars to stay in Pennsylvania.”

The Bucks Emergency Rental Assistance (BERA) program has about $40 million still available for financial assistance to renters and landlords who have suffered financial hardship due to or during the COVID pandemic. So far, the program has used $9.2 million in Bucks to assist more than 1,000 households, with another 400 applications currently being processed.

“Despite having helped more than 1,000 households, we know there is more need,” Fields said. “It is of particular importance that those who are eligible for rental assistance get it, particularly before additional protections lapse.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently extended its moratorium on evictions through October 3, thought this applies only to counties with substantial or high levels of COVID-19. Bucks County has a substantial level of COVID-19 currently.

In late July, Bucks County President Judge Wallace H. Bateman Jr. issued an order that a 30-day continuance is automatically available to any tenant facing eviction who has applied for the BERA program. This order is in effect until Oct. 31.

“We want to make sure that everyone in Bucks County is able to stay in their home, that they can pay their rent,” said Diane Ellis-Marseglia, chair of the Bucks County Commissioners. “We’re here to make sure that everyone has that sanctuary.”

Residents must apply to BERA in order to determine eligibility, and landlords can encourage their tenants to complete an application. Renters applying for BERA must meet the following criteria:

• A family of four with income of $77,300 or less
• An individual with an income of $54,150 or less
• At risk of homelessness due to economic hardships that occurred due to or during the pandemic

The most common reasons for a BERA application to get denied are exceeding the income threshold or filing an application in the wrong jurisdiction, officials said. They urged residents on Tuesday to “just apply,” as simply filling out an application can give a tenant a 30-day protection from eviction.

Approximately 45 employees — a combination of county staff, non-profit partners and a third-party call center — are processing these applications. Fields said wait times have been very minimal.

Statewide, the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) had received 30,500 applications and awarded about $133 million awarded through June 30. More than $1 billion will be available statewide.

A recent survey from the U.S. Census Bureau found that more than 225,000 Pennsylvania adults were living in households where they were somewhat likely or very likely to be evicted within the next two months.

"[Communities of color] not only suffered higher rates of COVID-19 but have disproportionately experienced economic hardships and adverse health effects as a result of the pandemic,” Snead explained.

Even before the pandemic, “30 percent of Bucks County residents were earning less than the basic cost of living in the county,” said State Sen. Maria Collett, who represents portions of Bucks and Montgomery Counties.

To apply for assistance, Bucks residents can go online to review eligibility criteria and fill out an application on a cell phone or computer. Those with questions or in need of assistance can call the BERA helpline at 888-50-BUCKS.

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