NEWS RELEASE
JEFFERSON PARISH, LOUISIANA
March 15, 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JEFFERSON PARISH’S COVID EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IS NOW OPEN FOR LANDLORDS TO APPLY
JEFFERSON, LA – Jefferson Parish launched an Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) on March 1, 2021 to serve eligible persons who lack sufficient income or resources to pay rent due to COVID-19. To date, 1,846 tenants have applied for available assistance. Starting today, March 15, 2021, the program is now open for both tenants and landlords to apply. CLICK HERE to view eligibility requirements and to apply.
“We are pleased to be able to offer this much-needed assistance to residents in Jefferson Parish who were impacted financially by COVID-19,” said Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng. “I encourage all tenants and landlords to visit the website and apply online if you meet the qualifications.“
The purpose of ERAP is to assist families and individuals who are suffering a temporary financial setback due to the COVID-19 public health emergency and who need help with delinquent residential rent. ERAP may serve to assist renters who have been unable to pay rent during the moratorium period. ERAP can cover rental arrears dating back as early as April 1, 2020 for up to 12 months and forward rent for up to 3 months. Funding for this program has been allocated to Jefferson Parish through recently enacted federal legislation.
Those who qualify for this program include anyone living and renting in Jefferson Parish who has been economically impacted by COVID and has not yet received rental assistance from another program for the same time period. Applicants must meet certain income restrictions and provide documentation of their income and past-due rent payments.
Landlords that apply must provide a signed affidavit affirming that they have not and will not receive payment for the same month(s) rent due for the same tenant from any other rental assistance program. The landlord must also meet all of the following criteria:
- Forgive late fees, penalties, interest; not charge for court costs.
- Legal commitment to not evict tenant for past due rent prior to April 2020 or for failure to pay future rent unless 30 days after assistance ends.
- Agree to terms of assistance and submit required documentation.
Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. There is no set deadline for application submissions at this time. Application intake may be halted if the number of applicants exceed the available funding. The assistance will be a grant payable directly to the landlord through an agreement between the landlord and Jefferson Parish.
Visit www.jpera.org to apply and for more information. Once an online application is complete, a program representative will contact the applicant to continue to process. Ineligible applicants will receive notice by mail. Those in need of application assistance should call (504) 226-2324 or email help@jpera.org.
For more information about Jefferson Parish, visit www.JeffParish.net. Visit COVID.JeffParish.net to stay updated on COVID-19 in Jefferson Parish, including available resources, weekly testing sites, local dashboard and more. Residents can also receive regular updates by following the Parish on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@JeffParishGov) or by texting JPALERT or JPNOTICIAS to 888-777.
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Jefferson Parish Public Information Office 1221 Elmwood Park Boulevard, Suite 1002 Jefferson, LA 70123 |
JPALERT – SIGN UP TO RECEIVE EMERGENCY ALERTS |
Gretchen Hirt Gendron, PIO |
