Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano joined Yonkers City Council and local community-based organizations at Yonkers City Hall to announce the launch of the Yonkers Rental Assistance Program.

YONKERS, NY – June 1, 2021 — Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano announced the City of Yonkers today is launching its Emergency Rental Assistance Program (Y-ERAP) to aid Yonkers residents with their payments of back rent, prospective rent, utilities and potentially relocation expenses due to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Yonkers is expected to grant $14.5 million in aid now through September 2022, from funds received from the U.S. Department of Treasury under the American Rescue Plan.

Working in collaboration with local community-based organizations, specifically Cluster Community Services, The Bridge Fund of Westchester, Inc., Westchester Residential Opportunities, Catholic Charities and Westhab, Yonkers today launched the Y-ERAP at www.yonkersny.gov/yerap where residents can access information on eligibility requirements, program resources and begin the application process.

“Yonkers is proud to help struggling renters who have been impacted by the economic fallout of the pandemic,” said Mayor Spano. “More than anyone, we know how to best serve our local tenants and landlords and connect them to our local nonprofits who are the ‘boots on the ground’ with those in need. We want to ensure our residents are part of the city’s economic recovery as soon as possible.”

Kristina Yamin, Executive Director of Cluster Community Services, said, “CLUSTER is honored to partner with the City of Yonkers, and network Agencies like the Bridge Fund, Westchester Residential Opportunities, Catholic Charities and WestHab to provide support for Yonkers residents financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The last 14 months have been unprecedented, but as we slowly move back to life with a renewed sense of normalcy, CLUSTER is dedicated to supporting Yonkers residents experiencing hardships to become whole again.”

“As we continue to navigate the consequences of Covid-19 and anticipate the unknown that is still to come, we are looking forward to helping families not only regain their financial independence after such great loss but also help to build a sense of hope and empowerment for our Yonkers neighbors, as they begin to heal,” commented Grace Perry, Director, The Bridge Fund of Westchester. “Keeping these monies within the local community allows us and our network of partner organizations to ensure that those who are the most vulnerable receive the help in a timely, supportive and client-centered fashion. The Bridge Fund of Westchester is both honored and privileged to partner with the City of Yonkers and our Eviction Prevention partners in assisting individuals and families financially impacted by the pandemic.”

Marlene Zarfes, Executive Director, Westchester Residential Opportunities, Inc., stated, “Westchester Residential Opportunities, Inc. (WRO) is proud to have been chosen by the City of Yonkers as one of the organizations authorized to distribute ERAP funds.  This is an important step in pursuing recovery from the economic damage done to Yonkers and its residents by COVID-19.  We are looking forward to helping Yonkers residents retain and/or secure safe, affordable, accessible and fair housing.”

Those eligible for the Yonkers Emergency Rental Assistance Program must have suffered a reduction of income or unemployment due to COVID-19, owe back rent beginning after March 20, 2020 and face homelessness or housing insecurity in 2021.

Eligibility includes:

• Resident of Yonkers, AND
• An obligation to pay rent, AND
• You or a household member that has been financially affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic, AND
• Experienced or are at risk of housing instability, AND
• Your household is at or below 80% of area’s median income

Prioritization to households:

·         with incomes less than 50% of area median income or

·         households with one or more individuals that have not been employed for the 90-day period preceding the date of application.

The City of Yonkers expects to serve at least 400 households during the first round of its Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP). The U.S. Census Bureau’s 2013-2017 American Communities Survey reported that there were 133,154 renter-occupied households in Westchester County, including 39,197 in Yonkers. It is estimated that 31,557 renter households in Westchester and 9,290 in Yonkers believe they are at imminent risk of eviction.