It could be the most important pandemic-related program Delaware County is running, commented Councilwoman Elaine Paul Schaefer recently.

Between $16 to $20 million could come from the state,  allocated through the Federal Emergency Rental Assistance program, to help those struggling to pay rent because of pandemic job loss, writes Kathleen E. Carey for the Daily Times.

Hundreds face eviction right now in the county.

There are 600 to 800 pending eviction cases in the county right now, said Delaware County Solicitor William Martin.

The funds could apply first to eviction cases filed through Jan. 31, with priority going to a tenant whose income is 50 percent or less of the adjusted median income for the county, less than half of about $72,000.

 “The intent of the program is that the payment is made and then the tenant is working from a fresh slate going forward,” Martin added.

Schaefer said a state moratorium against eviction has been running for 10 to 11 months “but when that is lifted, without this program, without this financial help, we would have a really big problem on our hand in a huge homeless or newly homeless sector of the population.” Read more about tenant aid at the Daily Times.