Delaware County Emergency Rental Assistance

• DELCO ERA will pay up to 12 months for past due rent and your largest past-due utility bill. For verified Priority 1 applications, up to three (3) months of future rent and utility may be paid totaling up to 15 months of assistance. Past due rent can go as far back as April 1, 2020. DELCO ERA does not pay for deposits.
• No more than one (1) application per household.
• Grant funds are paid directly to your landlord/property manager and utility on your behalf.
• Funds will be distributed on a “first come, first qualified and approved” basis until program funds are depleted.
• Eligible applicants must earn 80% or less of area median income (AMI) for household size. (See below)
• Priority 1 for processing will be given to households where at least one of the following is true:
  • Total household income no greater than 50% of Area Median Income;
  • At least 1 person unemployed who has an active claim with the Office of Unemployment Compensation for at least the 90 days prior to the date of Registration with this Program;
  • Facing eviction in Common Pleas Court, filed on or before January 31, 2021 for the reason of non-payment of rent.
• People with language and/or physical or related challenges can request assistance with application submission.

To qualify for DELCO ERA assistance, you must meet all of the following criteria:

1. Household income must be no more than 80% of area median income. Priority will be given to households at or below 50% AMI.

2. Qualified for unemployment benefits during the pandemic or can attest in writing that you or a member of your household has experienced a reduction of income, incurred significant costs, or experienced other financial hardship due, directly or indirectly, to the pandemic.
3. Can demonstrate a risk of housing instability and/or homelessness with a past due utility or rent notice or eviction notice.
4. Primary residency in Delaware County, PA.
   • To verify whether you have an eligible address within Delaware County, PA, click here: Delaware County GIS. Enter your address in the "Find Address" box in the upper left. An eligible address will be within the thick black border of the county.

Register at Delaware County ERA Registration. The Application Process has multiple parts:

1. Registration. This is a two-step process. Step 1 is registering your information at the link above. You will then receive an email to complete Step 2. This step asks you to answer a few questions about your financial status to determine eligibility for the Program. You must complete both steps to proceed.
2. Once you have completed both Step 1 and Step 2 in the registration process a case manager will review your information.
   • If you fail the Threshold Criteria, you will be notified by email with the reason.
   • If it is determined that you pass the Threshold Criteria, you will get an email from us inviting you to submit the Full Application.
3. Once you are invited to apply, you will receive an email to submit your Full Application and all required documentation through your Portal.
   Verification documentation could include:
   • Photo Identification
   • Evidence of Income Loss
   • Evidence of Past Due rent and/or utilities
   • Lease
4. When you have submitted your Full Application and complete set of verification documents, any grant for which you may be eligible will be calculated and paid quickly.