Carbon County is aiming to help renters who are in trouble of losing their place to live because they don’t have the money to pay.

Last week, the Carbon County Collaborative, which is made up of multiple organizations that come together to create a network of resources for the community, heard from Erin Dennison and Megan Astacio, Emergency Rental Assistance Program coordinators through the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley, about the program.

The Carbon County Commissioners entered into the partnership with the United Way earlier this year to continue distributing just over $1 million that the county received during the COVID-19 pandemic for rental assistance.

Dennison said that since the application process opened on Sept. 3, there have been approximately 92 applications as of the meeting that have been received requesting help with rental funds.

Applications are available online, as well as printed for those who don’t have the internet. Appointments for help filling out these applications are also available through Astacio, who is currently meeting with people at the Carbon Housing Authority office in Lehighton or at one of the libraries in the area.

Dennison said that organizations such as the collaborative are important for this cause because they are the groups seeing the need and have been referring people who are eligible to apply.

The ERAP program can assist renters with up to 18 months of rental arrears and utility payments if they meet the eligibility guidelines. To be eligible, the household must has an income at or below 80% of area median income; can demonstrate they are at a risk of homelessness or housing instability and have qualified for unemployment benefits or experienced financial hardship due to the COVID-19 public health emergency.

“For families in Carbon County that are really struggling, if they’re already working with you, we would love to get in contact with them,” Dennison told the collaborative. “It really helps us when we can build relationships in the communities.”

Carbon residents can apply for themselves as tenants, or landlords can apply on behalf of current tenants.

Any person or organization with questions related to ERAP is encouraged to contact the United Way ERAP team at erapcarbon@unitedwayglv.org.

For more information and to apply online, visit unitedwayglv.org/carbon-erap.