PHASE 4 PHLRentAssist is now open!!

Phase 4 Facts:

• Landlords and tenants can apply. If a landlord applies, their tenant must be eligible, and they must get written consent from their tenant. If a landlord does not wish to participate, the rental assistance can be paid directly to the tenant.

• Applicants who received funds in Phases 1-3 of PHLRentAssist are eligible to apply for Phase 4, however, applicants may not receive funds for any months which they have previously been paid.

• Tenants are eligible if they meet all three of these criteria:

  1- Have a household income at or below 80 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI). View income guidelines here.

  2- Qualify for unemployment benefits; or have experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs, or experienced some other financial hardship due to COVID-19.

  3- Demonstrate a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability. Tenants can meet this criterion if they have any past-due rent, past due utilities, received an eviction notice, or are paying over one-third of their household income on rent.

• Assistance for both rent and utilities is available:

  1- Rent assistance can be provided for up to 18 months total, including back rent and forward rent. However, no more than 3 months of forward rent can be provided at one time. Tenants who receive 3 months of forward rent and have not exceeded the 18 months of total assistance, may reapply for another 3 months of forward rent.

  2- Applicants with rent arrears must satisfy at least one month of those arrears before applying for forward rent.

  3- Assistance may only be provided for months of rent after April 2020.

  4- The total amount of rent assistance cannot exceed $2,000 per month, and that amount may include late fees or other charges passed on by the landlord.

  5- Utility payments can be provided for up to 18 months total.

  6- Utility payments must have been accrued on or after March 12, 2020.

  7-Utility payments can only be for the current month and past-due utility payments (assistance is not available for future months’ utility bills).

• Utility payments can only be for the current month and past-due utility payments (assistance is not available for future months’ utility bills).

Visit PHLRentAssist for more details and Questions? Call 311 or visit our HELP Portal.

Moratorium on Evictions & Renters Assistance

The CDC has extended their moratorium on evictions for non-payment through March 31, 2021.
To be protected you need to follow important steps. Click here for more information, and for other local, state and federal tenant protections.
The Philadelphia Eviction Prevention Project is here to assist you. Call 267-443-2500 for free legal advice and possible representation!
More details here.

The City of Philadelphia is helping renters stay in their homes. One way is by offering emergency rental assistance to help tenants who have lost income due to COVID-19. Rental assistance helps landlords too.
To date there have been three rounds of rental assistance for Philadelphia tenants:

• Phase 1 accepted applications in mid-May

• Phase 2 accepted applications between July and November 4th.

• Phase 3 Tenants eligible for Phase 3 received an email notification. The deadline for submitting Phase 3 information is February 12, 2021.

• Phase 4 opening up in March.

Read more here.

PPP = Paycheck Protection Plan Funding

PPP at Community First
SBA Paycheck Protection Program Loan
A new round of funding for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), administered by the SBA, continues the availability of much-needed financial support for eligible small businesses to help keep employees and stay open safely during the COVID-19 pandemic. To provide the highest level of customer service, we are dividing applications into two different categories: 1. Second-Time Community First Fund PPP Borrowers, and 2. First-Time Community First Fund PPP Borrowers.

Read more here and to start your application.

Financial Assistance for Renters, Businesses & Property Tax

Philadelphia’s COVID rental assistance program to roll out differently in 2021
Taylor Allen, WHYY

After a year of hard lessons, Philadelphia officials say a new and improved COVID-19 rental assistance program will come online in March. Among the changes in the works for the program funded by Congress as part of a $900 billion COVID relief package passed in December, are new income requirements and up to 12 months of aid, though only three months of that can be for forward rent, according to the federal rules.
Read here the new rules.

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Everything Restaurants Need to Know About the $284 Billion PPP Program
Ryan Sutton, EATER New York
Here’s how bars, cafes, and restaurants can qualify for the PPP loans, which fully convert to grants if used properly. Read here.

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Owe business taxes because of COVID-19? We have a plan for you
Lana Adams, Department of Revenue Philadelphia
The Department of Revenue understands the COVID-19 health crisis impacted businesses in Philadelphia tremendously. In response, we’re releasing a new payment plan to support businesses that were in tax compliance before the pandemic struck. If you needed a plan to get back on track with taxes, we’ve got one for you. More information here.

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Your 2020 property tax bill is now delinquent, but we can help
Lana Adams Department of Revenue Philadelphia
You may have already been racking up monthly interest and penalties on your unpaid 2020 Real Estate Taxes. But if you don’t pay soon, your account could look worse. Bills for 2020 Real Estate Tax were due on June 15, 2020. As of January 1, any unpaid property taxes mean: Additional costs, A delinquent status on your balance, A lien filed against your property, and Possibly losing your home at a sheriff sale.
You can say goodbye to these additional burdens, whether your debt is big or small. The Department of Revenue:

• Makes it easy for you to make full or partial payments,

• Offers affordable payment plans, and

• Has programs that could help reduce future tax bills.

More information here.