City Council Votes to Limit Landlords' Use of Eviction Records
June 24, 2021
Philadelphia City Councilmember Kendra Brooks’ push to limit landlords use of tenants’ eviction records passed City Council Thursday 16-1. Councilmember David Oh was the lone opposition.
“Just like the job application process, every person has the right to be fairly evaluated when applying for rental housing,” Brooks said. “As Philadelphians recover from the devastating impacts of the pandemic, these bills will ensure everyone has a fair chance at securing housing. With these bills, Philadelphia is continuing to set a nationwide precedent in protecting the rights and dignity of renters.”
Breaking: CDC's Eviction Moratorium Extended 30 Days
The Biden Administration has issued a 30-day extension to the temporary halt in residential evictions, the CDC announced today. This extends the moratorium through July 31, 2021, and the CDC says this is intended to be the final extension.
VIDEO: Learn How to Apply for Emergency Rental Assistance; Millions of Dollars Still Available in Phila.
With the eviction moratorium set to expire at the end of the month, the City of Philadelphia is urging tenants who are facing COVID-related financial hardships and potential eviction to apply for emergency rental assistance.
Ali Mooney, Housing Programs Manager at the Philadelphia Housing Development Corporation, held a virtual training seminar today, teaching landlords how to apply.
As of June 22, PHDC has received 32,697 total applications. About eight thousand have been reviewed, with an approval rate of approximately 60%. So far the city has approved nearly $21 million dollars to help tenants pay their back and future rent. The City of Philadelphia has been appropriated $150 million for the program, which does not currently have an end-date. The program is funded through Congressional passage of the Covid Relief Package in December and the American Rescue Plan Act in March. The city is currently reviewing approximately 500 to 600 applications a day, and an average wait for a decision is 45 to 50 days after submission, Mooney said.
Tenants are eligible if their household income is at or below 80% of the Area Median Income (for a family of four, that’s $76,600), can show a financial hardship as a result of COVID, and can demonstrate a risk of homeless, such as past-due rent or receiving an eviction notice. The assistance will pay as much as $2,000 a month for up to 18 months, including backrent since April, 2020. Tenants could also receive up to $2,000 each for payments to PGW (gas), PWD (water), and PECO (electric), paid directly to the utility. None of this money is paid back.
In the virtual seminar, Mooney trained landlords on how to apply online, including linking tenant-landlord applications, providing the proper banking and property ownership documents, and reviewed the most common mistakes applicants make that can delay processing.
Upon approval, payments are usually made within two to three weeks.
The event was sponsored by HAPCO Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania Apartment Association.
For more information, go to phlrentassist.org.
Watch the training seminar below.
PHA Offers Incentives to Landlords for HCV Units
Because of the high demand and a short supply of Housing Choice Voucher rental units (formerly Section 8), the Philadelphia Housing Authority is now offering Philadelphia landlords incentives for participating in the program.
These come in the form of signing bonuses, protection from damages, and security deposit assistance.
