LIHP administering $56M in rental help for two Nassau towns

Two Nassau County towns are working with the Long Island Housing Partnership to offer economic assistance to tenants and landlords facing hardships as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The Town of Hempstead received about $40 million, and the Town of Oyster Bay received $16 million in federal funds to help renters pay rent and utilities. The program in both towns is being administered by LIHP. 

The program is designed to assist residents with current and prospective rent, arrears for utilities and home energy costs, and other expenses related to housing such as rental security deposits.  Both tenants and landlords may apply and both will be requested to participate.  

Assistance could be provided for up to 18 months of payments and will cover arrears and costs accrued on or after March 13, 2020. Assistance is available on a first-come, first-served basis until the federal funds have been exhausted, with a priority granted to very low-income households and households with a person unemployed for 90 days or more. 

Applicants must show that one or more individuals within the household has either qualified for unemployment benefits, experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs, or experienced other financial hardship during or due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They also need to demonstrate that the household is at risk of homelessness or housing instability, and must have household income at or below 80 percent of the HUD area median income based on calendar year 2020 or current projected 2022 income. Income guidelines vary based on the household size. 

Qualifying residents in the Town of Oyster Bay can submit applications through Sept. 16 and those in the Town of Hempstead can submit applications through August 26. 

For more information visit the LIHP website at lihp.org.