Carbon County renters and landlords who were affected by the pandemic can now apply for help through the CARES Rent Relief Program.

Applications are now being accepted by the Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Allentown for all Carbon County applicants. The organization was designated as the manager for the program in Carbon County by the county commissioners last month.

The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency’s 2020 Pennsylvania CARES Rent Relief program was established to assist families experiencing job or income loss as a result of the COVID-19 health crisis who are now struggling to pay their rent.

According to Catholic Charities’ project outline last month, “assistance will include payments for rent, payments to eligible households who are able to document a 30% reduction of income as a result from COVID-19, filed for unemployment due to COVID-19 and from March 1, 2020, and their current annual income is not over Carbon County’s Median Family Income.

“In addition, each eligible household would be able to receive up to $750 for up to six months. Verification of the household applying for unemployment will be completed by PHFA.”

To apply, visit https://www.phfa.org/pacares/rent.aspx and print out all three applications, which require both renter and landlord participation.

The landlord must complete both the landlord application and landlord-property certification, while the renter must fill out the renter application.

You can then send all applications and any supplemental documentation that is requested for the application to Catholic Charities, Diocese of Allentown, 900 S. Woodward St., Allentown, PA 18103.

For additional information on program guidelines, income limits and other questions, visit the aforementioned website and click on additional CARES RRP resources on the bottom of the page.

To speak with a representative from Catholic Charities, call 610-435-1541, ext. 269, or email hmercado@allentowndiocese.org.

Funds through the program must be completely distributed by Nov. 30.