Vermont Business Magazine A new federally funded Vermont Emergency Rental Assistance Program (VERAP) will launch in early April 2021 and provide aid to eligible residents of Vermont who cannot pay their rent due to the COVID-19 pandemic. VERAP will be administered by the Vermont State Housing Authority (VSHA) with an online application provided by ReFrame Solutions, call center, and case management services from BPO American and a comprehensive outreach and marketing campaign by Fourteen G, all leading experts in their field.
“VSHA has assembled a team of national industry leaders to launch the VERAP program with state-of-the-art technology, comprehensive case management, and a scaled outreach campaign," said VSHA Executive Director, Richard Williams "we want to make sure that every eligible tenant and landlord have access to this vital assistance.”
The Vermont Emergency Rental Assistance Program will help with past-due rent going back to April 1, 2020, and future rent payments as well as relocation expenses, including rental application fees, and security deposits associated directly or indirectly with COVID-19 and future payments not to exceed 15 months. VERAP will also be able to assist with utility payments, which may be applied for separately or together.
The program will have income eligibility requirements and assistance will be available to tenant households where at least one person has qualified for unemployment benefits, had their income reduced, had significant costs, or had other financial hardship due to COVID-19. You do not need to be receiving unemployment benefits payments to get help from this program. Tenants who are receiving support through the Agency of Human Services (AHS) Reach Programs should speak to their case manager to apply for assistance through that Agency.
“We know too many Vermonters are still struggling from the economic impacts of the pandemic, and we must work to support them as we approach more normalcy in the days ahead,” said Governor Scott. “This emergency rental assistance program is an important effort to support Vermonters as we approach the end of the pandemic.”
VERAP is designed to help alleviate income pressure on tenants and landlords and restore stability to the rental market so that eligible tenants and their landlords will be empowered to contribute back to the economy as the rental crisis diminishes. This program will be offered to residential tenants and landlords, not businesses or homeowners.
Source: MONTPELIER, VT April 5, 2021 - Vermont State Housing Authority