Governor Tom Wolf yesterday extended his moratorium on foreclosures and eviction proceedings until August 31. His Order (you can read it here) will give struggling homeowners and tenants a little time to familiarize themselves with rent and mortgage relief programs being administered by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA). It also mirrors extensions on foreclosure proceedings on most federally backed mortgages.
The PHFA has $150 million for rent assistance and $25 million to help pay mortgages. Applications are available here.
Wolf's order notes that homeowners and renters are still responsible for their debt, and tenants may still be evicted for issues unrelated to nonpayment or remaining in possession after a lease has expired.
Northampton County tenants in need of rent assistance can do the following:
If you live in Bethlehem, Bethlehem Township, Hellertown, Lower Saucon Township :
Contact: New Bethany Ministries at 610-691-5602 x213
If you live in Easton there are 2 agencies you may contact:
- Easton Area Neighborhood Center at 610-253-4253 or email Ross Marcus at rmarcus@eastonanc.org
- ProJeCt of Easton at 610-258-1100 ext. 13 or email Michael Banas at mbanas@projecteaston.org
All other municipalities of Northampton County, contact Third Street Alliance at 610-438-1763 or email Ziana Keith at keith@thirdstreetalliance.org
Tenants who are 14 days or less away from losing their residence and have either a Notice to Quit or a Lockout Order/Notice:
Call 211 to be connected to Northampton County Tenant Eviction Assistance program seeking rental assistance
1 comment:
This is the ticking time bomb and long tail peril of COVID-19 that too few seem very concerned about.
If anything, Congress should be focusing on working with banks to deliver structured and heavy RESIDENTIAL mortgage relief in the next stimulus bill.
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