Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP - Monroe County PA Residents Only)
The Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) was created to help renters dealing with financial challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic. For eligible Monroe County households, the program offers rental and utility assistance to avoid eviction or loss of utility service.
ERAP was established by the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021. Governor Wolf signed Act 1 of 2021 into law on February 5, 2021 allowing the Department of Human Services (DHS) to implement and administer ERAP in accordance with federal.
Emergency Rental Assistance Information
ERAP Requirements
A household must be responsible to pay rent on a residential property, and:
- One or more people within the household have qualified for unemployment benefits, had a decrease in income, had increased household costs, or experienced other financial hardship due directly or indirectly to the COVID-19 pandemic;
- One or more individuals in the household can show a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability; AND
- The household has an income at or below 80 percent of Area Median Income (AMI).
Monroe County 80% Area Median Income (AMI) Levels
Resources (such as bank accounts and cars) will not be considered when you apply for ERAP.
| Total Annualized Income | # of family members | # of family members | # of family members | # of family members | # of family members | # of family members | # of family members | # of family members |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | |
| $44,350 | $50,650 | $57,000 | $63,300 | $68,400 | $73,450 | $78,500 | $83,600 |
Do I qualify if I receive Section 8 or subsidized housing assistance?
An eligible household that lives in a federally subsidized residential or mixed-use property may receive ERAP assistance as long as ERAP funds are not applied to costs that have been or will be reimbursed under any other federal assistance. This would include Section 8 housing.
If an eligible household receives a monthly federal subsidy (e.g., a Housing Choice Voucher, Public Housing, or Project-Based Rental Assistance) and the tenant rent is adjusted according to changes in income, the renter household may receive ERAP assistance for the tenant-owed portion of rent or utilities that are not subsidized
ERAP helps tenant households with paying rent, past-due rent balances (also known as arrears), utility and home energy costs, utility and home energy cost arrears, and other expenses related to housing detailed below.
Rent expenses include rent, rent arrears, rental costs for trailers and trailer lots, and may include long-term housing hotels, motels, and boarding homes.
Utilities include separately stated electricity, gas, water, sewer, trash removal and energy costs, such as fuel oil.
Other expenses related to housing include but are not limited to relocation expenses, rental fees, reasonable late fees, internet services for work, home schooling, telemedicine, etc.
How much of my rental/utility arrears can be covered?
Assistance can be provided for a tenant with payment of rent, rental arrears, utility or home energy costs, utility or home energy cost arrears or other expenses related to housing for up to 12 months (plus an additional three months, if necessary, to ensure housing stability for the household, subject to the availability of funds) that has been accrued on or after March 13. 2020.
Tenant Online Application - Pease register for the online application portal. The CAPTAIN system will send a verification e-mail with a password. Applicants do not need to complete the application in one sitting. However, applications can only be submitted once, so verify all information and document uploads before submitting.
Landlord Online Application
Paper applications can be requested at the e-mail/phone number listed below or downloaded, printed, and mailed: Monroe County ERAP, One Quaker Plaza Room 204, Stroudsburg, PA 18360.
- Rental Application (PDF) - Not Required for Online
- CAPTAIN Client Release Form - Tenant Only (PDF)
- HIPAA Authorization Form - Tenant Only (PDF)
- Tenant Certification Form – Tenant Only (PDF)
- Appeal Form - Tenant Only (PDF)
- Landlord Certification Form – Landlord Only (PDF)
- W-9 - Landlord Only (PDF)
Information you will need to provide:
- Personal identification information for the head of household. This could include a driver's license, state-issued ID card, passport, etc.
- Income information for all household members over the age of 18.
- Your lease and something to show the amount of rent you owe.
- Your landlord's name and contact information.
- Utility expenses like electric, water, oil, natural gas, etc.
- Utility provider information.
- Personal identification such as a driver's license, state-issued ID card, passport, etc.
- Unemployment determination letter or proof of a decrease in household income due to COVID-19 (paystubs or a letter from your employer).
- Proof of income for all household members over age 18.
- Paystubs, W-2s, other wage statements, tax filings, direct deposit records, or attestation from an employer.
- Documentation of unearned income such as unemployment benefits, social security benefits, retirement benefits, child/spousal support, etc.
- Document(s) showing rent and/or rental arrears due.
- Document(s) showing utility and/or utility arrears due.
- Document(s) showing other housing-related expenses experienced due to COVID-19.
