NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC – New Hanover County Health and Human Services’ Department of Social Services began administering the Emergency Rental Assistance Program today, March 29, 2021. The program is designed to aid households impacted financially by the COVID-19 pandemic with rent, utilities and other household costs. An outline of how to apply is included below.
The Emergency Rental Assistance program is made available through a $7.1 million allocation to New Hanover County from the COVID-19 relief package included in the federal Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners voted to accept the funding to administer the program on March 15, 2021.
“Starting today, the Emergency Rental Assistance Program is available to New Hanover County residents facing housing instability because of the pandemic, and we are working with landlords, community partners and individuals to make sure people who need help get it,” said Department of Social Services Director Tonya Jackson. “This program will make a big difference for those in our community who are in need, and help us on the path toward recovery from this pandemic.”
To be eligible for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, households must meet three criteria:
US Citizenship is NOT an eligibility requirement for this program. For full eligibility details, visit SocialServices.NHCgov.com.
Applications can be submitted online or over the phone. To prevent the spread of COVID-19, applying in-person is not required. To apply:
After submitting an application, residents will be asked for required documentation, including pay stubs, verification of job or income loss, rental lease, proof of residency in New Hanover County, form of identification, and late notice/documentation from landlord. Details of required documentation can be found at SocialServices.NHCgov.com.
Once your application is processed and reviewed, you will be notified of whether or not the application was approved, and how much assistance you are eligible for.
For more information on the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, call or text 910-798-3650, or visit SocialServices.NHCgov.com. For more information on AccessHHS, visit AccessHHS.NHCgov.com.
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