FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 30, 2020
City of Kingston Launches Rental Assistance Program
Applications Open December 1-31, 2020
KINGSTON, NY – Mayor Steven T. Noble is pleased to announce, in partnership with RUPCO, the launch of the Kingston Rental Assistance Program, which will provide up to three months rental arrears for low and moderate income families. Applicants must be able to document a direct impact by COVID-19 by a reduction or loss of income.
Assistance will be prioritized for families and for households earning 60% area median income (AMI) or less. The Kingston Rental Assistance Program anticipates serving between 20-25 households with a maximum assistance cap of $3,000 for each household. Payments will be made directly to landlords for rental arrears and assistance can’t exceed base rent amount in lease. Anticipating a high demand for rental assistance, RUPCO will complete a lottery to determine who receives assistance.
Application eligibility:
- Must be a current renter residing in the City of Kingston
- Household income limits are listed below. Those earning at or below 60% AMI will be prioritized.
- Proof of loss or reduction of income related to COVID-19 is required
- A lease or rental agreement is required
|
Household size
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
|
80%Area Median Income
|
46,900
|
53,600
|
60,300
|
66,950
|
72,350
|
|
60% Area Median Income
|
35,160
|
40,200
|
45,240
|
50,220
|
54,220
|
Applications will be accepted beginning Tuesday, December 1, 2020 and ending Thursday, December 31, 2020. Starting on December 1, application forms will be available at: https://rupco.org/city-of-kingston-covid-19-rental-assistance/. Paper copies will be available in RUPCO’s lobby at 289 Fair Street.
“The City is pleased to provide this funding, which will be crucial for renters who have been negatively affected by Covid,” said Mayor Noble. “It is so important that we protect all of our residents when the statewide eviction moratorium ends and we hope the Rental Assistance Program will prevent anyone from losing their home.”
Kathy Germain, Vice President of Housing Services states, “RUPCO understands that many renters and landlords have been impacted by COVID. Our agency knows there are many households struggling as a result of the pandemic. We are happy to partner with the City to administer this program and we will continue to seek resources to assist renters and homeowners.”
All applicants and landlords will be notified by Thursday, January 14, 2021. Those selected will be required to supply additional landlord documentation by Monday, January 25, 2021 before funding will be issued.
Funding for the Rental Assistance Program comes from the Community Development Block Grant Program’s Coronavirus Response Grants (CDBG-CV), a part of the Federal Government’s CARES Act. Additional funding may be available for a second round of rental assistance, at which time those on the waitlist will be contacted and served in lottery order.