County Executive Ryan Calls for Federal Coronavirus Assistance

KINGSTON, N.Y. – County Executive Ryan during his live Facebook briefing today called on Senate leadership to include federal assistance for local governments. While the House passed significant aid for state and local governments in the HEROES Act, which would provide direct relief for counties, there is growing concern that the Senate coronavirus relief bill may not include critical support for state and local governments. In April, County Executive Ryan wrote for the Times Union about the importance of much-needed federal relief for counties who are on the frontlines of the pandemic. 

“Across the United States, counties are serving as the first line of response to the COVID-19 epidemic,” Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan said. “A failure to act by the United States Senate would devastate local governments across the country as they continue to fight daily to save lives on the frontlines of this pandemic.” 

County Executive Ryan also reminded residents that the COVID-19 Rent Relief Program is now open. 

To qualify for rental assistance, residents must meet all the following eligibility criteria:

  • Be a renter with a primary residence in New York;
  • Lost income due to COVID-19 crisis during the period April 1, 2020 to July 31, 2020;
  • Household does not current receive a housing subsidy that covering housing costs that exceed 30 percent of their income;
  • Before March 1, 2020 and at the time of application, household income must be below 80 percent area median income (see table below); families with extremely low income will be prioritized; and
  • Before March 1, 2020 and at the time of application, households must be “rent burdened,” or pay more than 30 percent of their gross monthly income for rent.

Households with at least one household member with U.S. Citizenship or eligible immigration status qualify for the subsidy. 

Residents may apply for one month or up to four months of assistance during this period; the one-time subsidy is paid directly to the applicant’s landlord. To be eligible, applicants must verify income, including wages, any cash assistance, child support, Social Security payments, rental payments, unemployment benefits and the like.

Eligible applicants must apply through the NYS COVID Rent Relief website,. New York State will establish a call center to answer residents’ questions at 1-833-499-0318.

Rental Assistance Available for

  • Apartment rental;
  • Rent for a single-family home;
  • Manufactured home rental; and
  • Manufactured home lot rental.

There are currently 121 active cases of COVID-19 in Ulster County and 90 fatalities. 

For additional information about COVID-19, please visit: 

https://ulstercountyny.gov/coronavirus

Ulster County COVID-19 Hotline: 845-443-8888

NYS Coronavirus Information Hotline: 888-364-3065

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