Bring your paperwork to one of the Emergency Rental Assistance Program Locations throughout Lancaster County to start your application for rent and utility assistance.
- Lancaster County Housing Authority
- CHI St. Joseph Children’s Health
- Real Life Community Services
- Ephrata Area Social Services (EASS)
- DSAA Mount Joy
- BASE Inc
- Community Action Partnership (CAP)
- Crispus Attucks
- Price Elementary
- Tenfold
- Crossnet Ministries
- The Factory Ministries
- Solanco Neighborhood Ministries (SNM)
Helpline: 717-590-3101
This is not a first come first serve program and applications with arrears and eviction notices will be referred for assistance before households with no arrears or threat of eviction.
For Continued Assistance
- You need to log in to www.assistancecheck.com, using the username and password that you created in your initial application. If you need help, please call 717-590-3101.
- Click “View and Print Documents” (Document Library). If you don’t have a way to print and scan documents, you can get assistance here: https://www.lchra.com/rent/#locations
- Click “Send Documents” to upload, upload the necessary forms and click submit.
- Check your status for updates
- Tell your landlord you applied
- Application will be reviewed, and eligibility will be determined
- Rental assistance check is released to landlord and/or utility provider
Applicants can check their status on the online portal and communicate through “Contact Us” in Assistance Connect.
Status Definitions:
- Submitted – If you do not see this status change to Initial/Active within 3 business days please call the helpline.
- Initial/Active – This means we have successfully received your initial application and you can go to Assistance Connect to start uploading documents.
- Not Registered – This means you have not activated your account in Assistance Connect.
- Incomplete Documentation – This means you have not uploaded all of the necessary documents listed on the checklist (Required Forms).
- Eligibility Determined – This means we have everything and you are eligible for assistance. It may take more than 5 business days to make the payment as information is collected from the Landlord and/or Utility Provider.
- Approved for Payment – This means a payment is in process or has been released to your Landlord or Utility Provider. Rent is paid Three (3) Months forward depending on number of months of arrears and previous assistance.
Eligible Assistance
- Eligible households may receive up to 12 months of assistance.
- The payment of existing housing-related arrears that could result in eviction of an eligible household is prioritized.
Eligible Households
- Households that experienced a COVID-19 pandemic related job or income loss or related expense; and
- demonstrate a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability; and
- have a household income that is 80% or less the Area Median Income (AMI)
Rent Assistance
- Rent including rental arrears.
- Eligible assistance with rent arrears as far back as March 13, 2020, (assuming no other financial assistance has been provided for the same months).
- Maximum monthly rent payments may include rent, late fees or penalties due to nonpayment, pet fees, and utilities covered by the landlord.
- Maximum monthly rent will be established at time of initial application submission and review of the tenant’s lease agreement (written or 3rd party verified documentation showing residency and past payments).
- Written signed and current lease; or
Utilities and Home Energy Costs
- Utilities and home energy costs including arrears, with or without the need for rent assistance.
- Utilities are defined as separately-stated electricity, gas, water and sewer, and trash removal costs.
- Home energy costs are defined as fuel oil (propane gas, heating oil).
- Eligible assistance with utility arrears as far back as March 13, 2020, (assuming no other financial assistance has been provided for the same months).
Other Expenses Related to Housing
- Other expenses related to housing incurred due, directly or indirectly, to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, as defined by the Secretary.
- Eviction court fees and legal representation for non-payment of rent and utilities only
- Eligible households will provide a bill, invoice, or evidence of payment
- Security deposits, first month’s rent to ensure eligible households’ stability due to permanent or temporary relocation due to COVID-19.
- Eligible households will provide notice of non-renewal of current lease, or other evidence of notice to temporarily relocate due to COVID-19
- Eviction court fees and legal representation for non-payment of rent and utilities only
Required Forms
Please Submit All Forms and Related Documentation Through your Assistance Connect Account.
Tenant
Landlord/Owner
Application Sites and Assistance
Columbia
CHI St. Joseph Children’s Health
401 Locust St., Columbia, PA 17512
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30am-4pm evening hours by appointment.
To contact: 717-205-3189
Denver
Real Life Community Services
240 Main Street, Suite B, Denver, PA 17517
Hours: Monday – Thursday, 9am-4pm, Friday, 9am-1pm, by appointment
To contact: 717-336-7797 or chris@reallcs.org
Ephrata
Ephrata Area Social Services (EASS)
227 North State Street, Ephrata, PA 17552
Hours: Monday – Friday, 9am-4pm, by appointment
To contact: 717-733-0345
Lancaster City
BASE Inc (By appointment)
447 S. Prince Street, Lancaster, PA 17603
Monday – Friday, 9am-5pm
Contact: dmartinez@baseinc.org or 717-742-0115
Community Action Partnership (CAP)
601 S. Queen Street, Lancaster, PA 17603
Bilingual staff able to assist
Hours: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 10am-1pm, 2-4pm, by appointment
To contact: 717-299-7301
Crispus Attucks
407 Howard Avenue, Lancaster, PA 17602
Hours: Mondays, 9am-12pm, 1-5pm, Fridays 9am-12pm, by appointment
To contact: 717-394-6604
Price Elementary
615 Fairview Avenue, Lancaster, PA 17603
Bilingual staff available to assist by appointment
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30am-4pm. Evening hours by appointment
To contact: 717-291-6252
Tenfold
308 E. King Street, Lancaster, PA 17602
Bilingual staff able to assist
Hours: By appointment
To contact: 717-358-9268 ext. 190
LANCASTER COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY
(No appointment needed)
28 Penn Square, Suite 200 Lancaster, PA 17602
Monday-Thursday: 8am-4:30pm, Friday: 8am-12pm
Contact: 717-394-0793
Mount Joy
DSAA
78 East Main St, Mount Joy, PA 17552
Contact: 717-492-6624
New Holland
Crossnet Ministries
127 W. Franklin Street, New Holland, PA 17557
Hours: Mondays – Wednesdays, 10am-4pm, by appointment
To contact: 717-355-2454
Paradise
The Factory Ministries
3293 Lincoln Hwy E, Paradise, PA 17562
Hours: Monday – Friday, 9am-4pm
To contact: 717-687-9594
Solanco
Solanco Neighborhood Ministries (SNM)
355 Buck Road, Quarryville, PA 17566
Hours: Monday – Thursday, 9am-12pm, 1-4pm, Fridays 9am-12pm, by appointment
To contact: 717-786-4308 or office@snministries.org
Income Limits
| Household Size | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50% Area Median Income | 29,050 | 33,200 | 37,350 | 41,500 | 44,850 | 48,150 | 51,500 | 54,800 |
| 80% Area Median Income | 46,500 | 53,150 | 59,800 | 66,400 | 71,750 | 77,050 | 82,350 | 87,650 |