This flyer contains information on Phase 4 of Philadelphia's rental assistance program, which provides relief to tenants facing financial hardships due to COVID-19. Funding was authorized by the federal government, and Philadelphia has about $97 million to spend on rental assistance and utility payments. Phase 4 should help around 10,000-15,000 renters. Applicants who received funds in Phases 1-3 of PHLRentAssist are eligible to apply for Phase 4, however, applicants may not receive funds for any months which they have previously been paid.
Tenants are eligible if they meet all three of these criteria: 1. Have a household income at or below 80 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI). 2. Qualify for unemployment benefits; or have experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs, or experienced some other financial hardship due to COVID-19. 3. Demonstrate a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability. Tenants can meet this criteria if they have any past-due rent, past due utilities, received an eviction notice, or are paying over one third of their household income on rent.
Tenants can apply for utility assistance as apart of this program, and below are the guidelines for utility assistance:
5. Utility payments can be provided for up to 18 months total. 6. Utility payments must have been accrued on or after March 13, 2020. • Utility payments can only be for the current month and past due utility payments (assistance is not available for future months’ utility bills). • Utility assistance can provide up to $2,000 for PGW (gas), $2,000 for Philadelphia Water Department, and $2,000 for PECO (electric).
City of Philadelphia, "COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program Phase 4 Flyer", contributed by Morgan Sarao and Alison Kenner, The Energy Rights Project, Platform for Experimental Collaborative Ethnography, last modified 17 May 2021, accessed 30 April 2024. https://energyrights.info/content/covid-19-emergency-rental-assistance-program-phase-4-flyer
Critical Commentary
This flyer contains information on Phase 4 of Philadelphia's rental assistance program, which provides relief to tenants facing financial hardships due to COVID-19. Funding was authorized by the federal government, and Philadelphia has about $97 million to spend on rental assistance and utility payments. Phase 4 should help around 10,000-15,000 renters. Applicants who received funds in Phases 1-3 of PHLRentAssist are eligible to apply for Phase 4, however, applicants may not receive funds for any months which they have previously been paid.
Tenants are eligible if they meet all three of these criteria: 1. Have a household income at or below 80 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI). 2. Qualify for unemployment benefits; or have experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs, or experienced some other financial hardship due to COVID-19. 3. Demonstrate a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability. Tenants can meet this criteria if they have any past-due rent, past due utilities, received an eviction notice, or are paying over one third of their household income on rent.
Tenants can apply for utility assistance as apart of this program, and below are the guidelines for utility assistance:
5. Utility payments can be provided for up to 18 months total. 6. Utility payments must have been accrued on or after March 13, 2020. • Utility payments can only be for the current month and past due utility payments (assistance is not available for future months’ utility bills). • Utility assistance can provide up to $2,000 for PGW (gas), $2,000 for Philadelphia Water Department, and $2,000 for PECO (electric).