$37 Million Backing Local Emergency Rental Assistance Program

March 18, 2021

A broad coalition of government and nonprofit agencies have teamed up in Bucks County to offer millions in emergency rental assistance.

The Bucks County Emergency Rental Assistance (BERA) program is open to both tenants and landlords. A soft launch has already led to about 900 applications being submitted, county officials said.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention moratorium on evictions for nonpayment is slated to cease at the end of March. Experts have warned that millions could face homelessness once the mortarium expires.

Groups like the AARP, the NAACP and the American Civil Liberties Union have written the federal government asking for an extension to avoid a sudden wave of evictions.

More information on the BERA program:

Bucks County tenants who have lost income or experienced other financial hardship as a result of COVID-19 are encouraged to apply for rent/utility assistance by visiting www.buckscounty.org/renthelp.
Renters can apply for assistance in paying rental arrears as well as for upcoming rent if they are still unable to pay. Landlords are also encouraged to apply by submitting tenant information, a valid W-9, and ledgers outlining arrears owed. However, a landlord application cannot be completed without tenant’s participation in establishing tenant eligibility. Landlords will be contacted to confirm approved payment amounts prior to payment being issued.
Please note that a moratorium on evictions is in effect through March 31 for qualifying tenants who present this completed declaration form to their landlords: https://www.buckscounty.org/DeclarationCDCTempEvictionHalt.
Any changes to the moratorium date will be updated on www.buckscounty.org/renthelp.

Aside from the website that features multiple languages, landlords and tenants with questions about eligibility or the application process can call the BERA helpline between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday at 888-50-BUCKS.

“Whether it’s job loss, medical bills or caring for ill loved ones, there are many ways this pandemic has upended life for Bucks County residents,” said Jeffrey Fields, director of the Bucks County Department of Housing and Community Development. “The BERA program’s goal is to stop evictions and displacement of renters, while helping landlords get the funds needed to pay their mortgages and maintain their properties.”

BERA is a partnership between the county and its Housing Link partners, including the Bucks County Opportunity Council, Bucks County Housing Group, the YWCA of Bucks County, and Legal Aid of Southeastern PA, Fields said.

The county was granted $18.7 million in funds through the U.S. Department of Treasury and $22.6 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for housing. A total of $37 million will be used for the BERA program. The funds were authorized through the December COVID-19 relief legislation, county officials said.

The recently-approved American Rescue Plan will include more funds for rent relief, Fields said.

Approximately 2,000 eviction notices were filed in Bucks County last year and 500 have been filed since the start of 2021. While eviction notices can be filed, the moratorium process can halt evictions if handled properly.

Fields said the county has provided information sheets on emergency rent relief to all the district courts to hand to people involved in eviction cases.