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Emergency Rental Assistance Program
Emergency Rental Assistance Program
Through the COVID-19 Economic Relief Bill of 2020, and extended through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) was created to assist renters with rental and utility assistance. Please click on the menu options below to search this page:
COMPASS Application - https://www.compass.state.pa.us/Compass.Web/RAP/Application
Printable Applications (First Time Application)
Application for Emergency Rental Assistance (English)
Solicitud para Asistencia de Alquiler de Emergencia (Spanish)
ការដាក់ពាក្យសុំជំនួយថ្ល ៃជួលផ្ទះក្នុងគ្រាអាសន្ន (Cambodian)
紧急租房补贴申请书 (Chinese)
طلب من أجل مساعدة طارئة في الإيجار (Arabic)
Заявление на получение срочного пособия на аренду жилья (Russian)
Đơn xin Hỗ trợ Tiền thuê nhà Khẩn cấp (Vietnamese)
Printable Applications (Recertification Application)
Application for Emergency Rental Assistance (English)
Solicitud para Asistencia de Alquiler de Emergencia (Spanish)
ការដាក់ពាក្យសុំជំនួយថ្ល ៃជួលផ្ទះក្នុងគ្រាអាសន្ន (Cambodian)
紧急租房补贴申请书 (Chinese)
طلب من أجل مساعدة طارئة في الإيجار (Arabic)
Заявление на получение срочного пособия на аренду жилья (Russian)
Đơn xin Hỗ trợ Tiền thuê nhà Khẩn cấp (Vietnamese)
Paper Application “Pick-Up” Locations
Application Submission Options
Program Guidelines
- Payment for rental and utility arrears can go back as far as March 2020
- Up to 18 months of rental and utility assistance
- Future rental and utility assistance can be approved in 3-month increments
- There is no monthly cap on either rental or utility assistance
Eligibility Criteria
- ERAP is for renters only
- Homeowners can reach out to Centre Helps at: 814-237-5855
- Households must have a gross annual or monthly income that does not exceed 80% of Centre County’s Area Median Income (AMI) – see chart below
- Households must demonstrate that they have been directly or indirectly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic or that the emergency financial assistance is needed during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Households must demonstrate that they are at risk of homelessness or housing instability
Centre County, Pennsylvania (2020)
| Household Size | 80% Area Median Income (AMI) |
| 1 | $49,700.00 |
| 2 | $56,800.00 |
| 3 | $63,900.00 |
| 4 | $70,950.00 |
| 5 | $76,650.00 |
| 6 | $82,350.00 |
| 7 | $88,000.00 |
| 8 | $93,700.00 |
Supporting Documents Required
Paper Application “Pick-Up” Locations
For households without access to computers/internet/printers, print applications can be picked up at the following YMCA branch locations:
| State College YMCA 677 W. Whitehall Rd. State College, PA 16801 814-237-7717 | Penns Valley YMCA 115 W. Streamside Place Spring Mills, PA 16875 814-422-6000 |
| Bellefonte YMCA 125 W. High St. Bellefonte, PA 16823 814-355-5551 | Moshannon Valley YMCA 113 N. 14th St. Philipsburg, PA 16866 814-342-0889 |
Applications and supporting documents can also be submitted in a secure dropbox at Summit Park (use the Adult Services/MHID main entrance, the dropbox will be outside Suite 1200). Application and supporting documents can also be dropped off with reception. The Office of Adult Services is open M-F from 8:30am-5pm.
Application Assistance Hubs
If you need help completing your application or submitting supporting documentation, please contact the Application Assistance Hub closest to you to schedule an appointment.
Centre Helps
410 S. Fraser St.
State College, PA 16801
814-237-5855
Community Action – Bellefonte
109 W. Bishop St.
Bellefonte, PA 16823
814-355-7509
Community Action – Penns Valley
337 E. Aaron Square
Aaronsburg, PA 16820
814-349-5850
Application Submission Options
Applications can be submitted by mail to:
Centre County Government
Office of Adult Services
3500 E. College Ave., Ste. 1200
State College, PA 16801
Or electronically to: adultservices@centrecountypa.gov
Or by fax: 814-355-8625
Or drop box/in-person: Applications and supporting documents can also be submitted in a secure dropbox at Summit Park (use the Adult Services/MHID main entrance, the dropbox will be outside Suite 1200). Application and supporting documents can also be dropped off with reception. The Office of Adult Services is open M-F from 8:30am-5pm.
We thank you for your patience as we work through this process. We understand and value the importance of making this program easy to navigate and accessible to all eligible Centre County residents.
For more information, please contact us by phone or email.
814-355-6768
adultservices@centrecountypa.gov
If you disagree with the grant decision made by the staff person, you may submit a written request for an appeal to: ERAP Appeal, c/o Human Services Administrator, 3500 E. College Ave., Ste. 1200, State College, PA 16801