Program Has Paid $9.2 Million To Bucks County Landlords, Utilities

The Bucks County Emergency Rental Assistance (BERA) program has helped more than 1,000 renters.

The program, which is backed by $37 million in federal COVID-19 aid funds, has assisted about 1,000 Bucks Countians facing financial difficulties due to COVID-19. The money has been used to pay past-due rent and utility bills. The total payout has tallied at $9.2 million, said Jeffrey Fields, director of the Bucks County Department of Housing and Community Development.

BERA is still processing about 400 applications and working to help residents and landlords who qualify to get applications completed, Fields said.

Earlier this year, Bucks County government and nonprofit partners, like the Bucks County Opportunity Council and YWCA Bucks County, put the BERA program in place. It had no parallel before the pandemic.

Fields said BERA has some bumps along the way, but there is “essentially no waitlist” as of Tuesday.

For more on the Bucks County Emergency Rental Assistance, click here or call 1-888-50-BUCKS.

“We’re here to help and want you to apply,” said Bucks County Opportunity Council Executive Director Erin Lukoss.

BERA is part of the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services’ Emergency Rental Assistance Program, which is funded by nearly $1 billion in federal aid.

Statewide, there have been 30,500 applications submitted and $133 million paid as of June 30, according to state data.

Outside the Bucks County Administration Building in Doylestown Borough on a sweltering Tuesday afternoon, officials touted the program and encouraged those who are eligible to apply.

Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Acting Secretary Meg Snead explained that Bucks County was one of 18 counties that run their own programs, while the state is administering the program in the state’s other counties.

Snead encouraged renters and landlords to apply.

Any money not used from the allotment from the federal government will be return to Washington D.C. once the program ends.

BERA was heralded by Snead for its implementation.

“It’s incumbent on all of us to ensure that these dollars get into the hands of people who need it,” she said, adding the goal is to use the funds to help Pennsylvanians.

Joshua Goldblum, the attorney managing Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania’s Bristol Township office, praised the BERA program and said it is a lifeline for people facing homelessness and landlords who have not been paid.

While a federal eviction moratorium was recently extended and impacts Bucks County, the county courts have also implemented an order that holds evictions for late payments at bay for those applying for BERA. The order was recently approved by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

In answering a question from a LevittownNow.com reporter, Fields said the BERA program is working with landlords and offering incentives to get them to open up more rental units to assist with housing needs.

The state’s previous effort to assist renters and landlords was criticized in 2020 for being ineffective and cumbersome.

Snead said her agency learned from that program and the latest rounds of funding comes with less restrictions.

More information on the BERA program:

The BERA Program provides rental and utility assistance to eligible Bucks County tenants impacted by COVID-19. Both tenants and their landlords are encouraged to apply – either party can start the application. Landlords are able to apply and invite multiple tenants to participate in the program at one time. Landlords must submit a W-9 and if there are rental arrears, a ledger/statement documenting what is owed. Landlords, please utilize only one application to invite multiple tenants – do NOT fill out individual applications for each tenant. Please understand while landlords can apply – an application cannot be completed without tenant participation.

In order to be considered an eligible Bucks County tenant you must be in one of the following housing situations:

-Renting a unit

-Renting a manufactured (mobile) home and/or the parcel of land the manufactured home occupies

-Residing in a hotel/motel as your primary residence for the last 90 days

-Renting a residence in a “rent-to-own” agreement, under which the renter has the option (or obligation) to purchase the property at the end of the lease term

The BERA program cannot provide mortgage assistance.

Tenants will be asked for the following documentation to apply. If you do not have some or all of this documentation, you can still apply. Please contact the BERA helpline at 888-50-BUCKS for assistance:

-Identification for adult (18+) household members

-Past 30 days income (check stubs from the last 30 days, evidence of unemployment, social security payments, etc.) or completed 2020 Federal Tax Return

-Assets – bank statement from last 30 days

-Most recent rent statement, if available

-Utility bills, if requesting utility assistance

-Lease/Rental Agreement

-Late notice/eviction notice (if one has been given)

Further details, terms, and conditions are contained in the online application. Please do not create multiple applications as it will slow the review process.

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