HONESDALE -- Wayne County received funding from the Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Rent Relief Program (RRP), through Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA), to help rental households in the communty.
The Wayne County Human Services Agency Housing Department is administering the CARES Rent Relief Program on behalf of Wayne County. Renters who were financially impacted by the economic slowdown related to the Coronavirus pandemic canapply for rent relief and the applications are accessible online.
For renters to be eligible for assistance under the CARES RRP, documentation must prove a 30% reduction in annual household income since March 1st related to COVID-19. If renters became unemployed, they must have filed for unemployment compensation with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry and have 30% reduction in annual household income. The household income cannot exceed the Wayne County Area Median Income, which is adjusted for the number of people in the household. Please reference the chart below:
Household Size | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
Wayne County | $ 48,300 | $ 55,200 | $ 62,100 | $ 69,000 | $ 74,600 | $ 80,100 | $ 85,600 | $ 91,100 |
If approved, Landlords will receive up to a maximum of $750/month per renter household or up to 100% of monthly rent, whichever is less, on behalf of the renter. Assistance may be given for a maximum of six months between March 1 and December 30, 2020, as needed, but the 30% income reduction must still be in effect. Landlords may apply on behalf of the renter, but landlord and renter must both submit documents in order to submit a complete CARES RRP application. Applications are currently being accepted and the deadline to submit is September 30, 2020.
A complete CARES RRP application consists of the following documents: Landlord Application, Landlord Property Certification, Lessee Household Certification/Renter Application, a W9 from the Landlord, Tenant pay stubs or income statement(s) for the period beginning January 2020, a copy of the lease to verify rent, and documentation to verify unemployment (if applicable).
Applications and documentation may be submitted either electronically to hmiszler@waynecountypa.gov or by mail to 314 Tenth Street, Honesdale, PA 18431, ATTN Heather Miszler. Application documents can be mailed to applicants by request. Although the application asks for banking information, Wayne County will only be issuing check to landlords. The bank information is not necessary to apply.
If you need the rental assistance documents mailed out, call 570-253-6758 or send a request via email to hmiszler@waynecountypa.gov.
Help is also available directly through the PA Housing Finance Agency for homeowners with mortgages.