Hempstead Supervisor Don Clavin, along with the entire Hempstead Town Board, authorized a $22,749,744.50 relief grant for the Long Island Housing Partnership, Inc. for the creation of an Emergency Rental Assistance Program.

This program was specifically designed to help the more than 1,500 residents within the town who are facing housing insecurity as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. LIHP will spearhead the initiative and administer the program that will provide assistance to people in need.

Clavin today announced the details of the grant at Hempstead Town Hall with Peter Elkowitz, resident/CEO of Long Island Housing Partnership and James Britz, Executive VP & COO of Long Island Housing Partnership, and was joined by Senior Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby, Councilman Bruce Blakeman, Councilman Anthony D’Esposito, Councilman Dennis Dunne, Sr., Councilman Tom Muscarella, Councilman Chris Carini, Town Clerk Kate Murray and Receiver Jeanine Driscoll.

“This is one of various initiatives that has been made possible thanks to the advocacy of Sen. Schumer in securing the extension of last year’s funding,” said Clavin. “Since the pandemic started, we have seen an increase in both home and food insecurity in our town. Initiatives with the INN, Long Island Harvest, Long Island Cares and now The Long Island Housing Partnership, Inc. are essential to help residents and families in the community face the unexpected challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The program can assist with current and prospective rent, arrears for utilities and home energy costs, and other expenses related to housing such as rental security deposits to ensure housing stability.

Assistance under this program could be provided for up to 12 months of payments, with an additional 3 months if necessary to ensure housing stability, and will cover arrears and costs accrued on or after March 13, 2020.

Residents that meet the below criteria are asked to fill out a short interest form at one of the following links:

English form:https://www.lihp.org/hempsteadERAP.html
Spanish form: https://www.lihp.org/hempsteadERAP-SP.html

Those who fill out the interest form will be contacted as soon as the application process officially launches, which is expected in mid-May. It is important for residents to know that this assistance program will work solely on a first-come, first-served basis. The Interest and Intake forms, as well as the Program Guidelines, will be available in English and Spanish.

Qualifying Criteria
– Eligible residents must be able to answer yes to the following questions:

1. Do you live in the Town of Hempstead as your primary residence?
2. Is your household income (from all sources) at or below 80% (see income guidelines below) of the U.S. Department of Urban Development Area Median Income?
3. Are you at risk of homelessness or housing instability? (e.g. past due utility or rent notices)?
4. Has one member of the household (a) qualified for unemployment, (b) had a reduction of income, (c) incurred significant costs, or (d) experienced a financial hardship?

Once the program opens if residents need help filling the intake form out online, there will be resources provided to assist including kiosks, or other locations in the Town of Hempstead where people will assist residents to submit the intake form, or by calling the established Call Center. Furthermore, there will be informational videos for both tenants and landlords on the LIHP website, also in different languages to help respond to any questions should these arise.

“The Long Island Housing Partnership (LIHP) is proud to work in partnership with Supervisor Clavin and the Town of Hempstead to provide rental assistance to those low- and moderate-income residents struggling to pay their rent due to COVID-19 impacts,” said Peter Elkowitz, President/CEO of the Long Island Housing Partnership.