Nearly $81M for eviction relief coming to Pennsylvania

Editor’s note: This story was updated to reflect that $81 million is coming to Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania is set to receive nearly $81 million in federal funding aimed at eviction relief, according to officials with U.S. Sen. Bob Casey.

Pittsburgh will get about $3 million, Allegheny County is set to receive more than $6 million and nearly $2 million will be distributed in Westmoreland County, according to the announcement. The Community Development Block Grant funding is through the CARES Act, Casey said. Nearly $2 billion will be distributed around the country.

“This funding is essential to providing support for Pennsylvanians who need temporary financial assistance to pay rent and weather the eviction crisis that the covid-19 pandemic has created,” he said.

The money can be used for up to six months of temporary financial assistance for rent payments. The allocations are focused on locations where the risk of eviction is high, such as in places where industries and businesses have seen large job losses. The money is being spread throughout the state with the most — $11 million — directed to Philadelphia.

McKeesport will get $145,000, and Penn Hills will receive nearly $250,000. Beaver County will get about $993,000, and about $1.6 million will go to Washington County.

The funding is earmarked solely for eviction relief, according to a spokeswoman in Casey’s office.

Pennsylvania’s moratorium on evictions for nonpayment of rent was lifted Aug. 31. Gov. Tom Wolf called on legislators to renew the ban before it expired, saying he didn’t have the legal authority to do it himself. No action has been passed by state legislators.

Housing advocates have said they expect a flood of landlord-tenant complaints in courts after job losses or cut hours have left some renters in precarious spots.

A $150 million program launched in July to help renters through the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency has seen issues because some landlords are refusing to participate, according to Spotlight PA. Paperwork requirements also are causing problems, the news outlet reported.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention earlier this month issued a directive that forbids residential evictions for nonpayment of rent. The directive applies to a renter who makes less than $99,000, can show that they’ve attempted to get government help for rent payments, can confirm they are likely to become homeless if evicted and affirm their ability to pay has been affected by the pandemic. The income limit for two people is $198,000.