MONCKS CORNER, S.C. – (Friday, March 26, 2021) – The application period for the federal Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) Program opens Monday, March 29 at 8 a.m. for Berkeley County residents who are renters and unable to pay rent and/or utilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The application period will be open for three weeks. The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. on April 16.
The County is also encouraging interested applicants to take a brief survey about the program. The survey will close at midnight Sunday, March 28. Take the survey HERE.
Individuals are encouraged to apply for the Emergency Rental Assistance online at BerkeleyCountySC.gov. A link to the application will be posted on the homepage Monday at 8 a.m. Paper applications will be made available by request. Applicants who need to request a paper application or have questions can call the Emergency Rental Assistance Hotline at 843-377-8507. The hotline will be available 24/7. Leave a message and your call will be returned within 24 hours. When applications are received, each application will be assigned a number. On Monday, April 19, a lottery will occur, randomly sorting all application numbers; and estimated timeframes will be provided so applicants know when their application will be reviewed.
Read more about the program and find out whether you qualify here: https://bit.ly/3lgJJ9e
Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a moratorium in 2020 for renters who were behind on their rent and could face eviction (document HERE). In this document, it is stated, “I have used the best available resources.” Therefore, those at risk of eviction should NOT plan to be covered by the moratorium; rather, they should seek assistance through this Emergency Rental Assistance Program to pay their arrears. For more information on the CDC Moratorium from S.C. Appleseed Legal Justice Center here: https://www.scjustice.org/cdc-eviction-moratorium-faq/
###
– Prepared by the Berkeley County Public Information Office –
