Rapid Rehousing Program

Press release:

Independent Living of the Genesee Region (ILGR) in collaboration with the Genesee County and Orleans County Departments of Social Services announces a new program to assist tenants and landlords affected by the current COVID-19 health pandemic.

The Emergency Solutions Grant, via the CARES Act funding, will provide rental assistance to individuals who are facing eviction and are unable to pay their rent due to circumstance related to the pandemic.

These circumstances may include being laid off, furloughed, workplace closure, having a wage earner unable to work due to COVID-19, or being the primary care giver of someone who contracted COVID-19, or other circumstances.

The eviction prevention rental assistance will be available to cover up to a maximum of $4,200 for households that qualify. The rent subsidy will be paid directly to the landlord to prevent eviction on behalf of the tenant.  

This program will be available to renters who meet the following eligibility criteria:

1. Must be a resident of the County where they are applying.
2. Must be determined ineligible for rental assistance with the Department of Social Services. 
3. Must provide proof of tenancy.
4. Household annual income must be at or below 50% of Average Median Income (AMI) for the County level prior to the COVID-19 crisis; and Households must provide documentation of loss or reduction of income due to COVID-19 after March 16, 2020.
5. Must be at risk of being evicted once the moratorium on eviction is lifted because of the COVID-19 Pandemic (i.e. already missed or about to miss rent payments and face eviction).

How to Apply for Assistance:

1. Contact the Department of Social Services to determine your eligibility for rental assistance. 
2. If you are not eligible, contact Independent Living of the Genesee Region at housing@wnyil.org.
3. You will be assigned to an Independent Living Specialist who will conduct an interview and collect all required documentation.  

Before contacting Independent Living, please have answers to the following questions:

a. Does your household income qualify based on this year’s gross yearly income? (The Federal Government’s unemployment pay of $600 per week is not considered as part of your income, but the state unemployment payments are). Please see income guidelines for income limits per household size.

              Genesee County                                                                Orleans County

One Person                   $25,800                                             One Person              $26,750

Two Person                   $29,500                                             Two Person              $30,600

Three Person                $33,200                                             Three Person            $34,400

Four Person                  $36,850                                             Four Person              $38,200

Five Person                   $39,800                                            Five Person              $41,300

Six Person                    $42,750                                             Six Person                $44,350

Seven Person               $45,700                                             Seven Person           $47,400

Eight Person                 $48,650                                             Eight Person             $50,450

b. Have any of your household members become unemployed or under-employed as result of the COVID-19 Pandemic?

c. Are you at risk of being evicted once the moratorium on eviction is lifted because of the COVID-19 Pandemic? (i.e., already missed or about to miss rent payments and face eviction)

If the renter provides false information to the County or its designee, they will not be qualified for the assistance and will be required to repay the assistance. The eligibility determination organization has the final say/decision in all matters/situations pertaining to this program. The program regulations can be changed at any time throughout the grant year due to reasons of funding or program need. In addition, the entire program may be withdrawn and/or changed by the County for any reason, including reasons of funding or program effect.

The Emergency Solutions Grant will provide additional funds to the existing Rapid Rehousing Program facilitated by Independent Living of the Genesee Region for people who are experiencing homelessness.  If you are unsheltered and need assistance, please contact Independent Living at (585) 815-8501, ext. 400. 

Independent Living of the Genesee Region (ILGR) is a member of the Western New York Independent Living, Inc. family of agencies that offers an expanding array of services to aid individuals with disabilities to take control of their own lives.

Press release:

Independent Living of the Genesee Region (ILGR), which works to improve the quality of life of people with any disabilities in the Genesee, Orleans, Wyoming County (GOW) area, has support from the Homeless Alliance of Western New York (HAWNY), the lead Continuum of Care (CoC) agency for most of Western New York, via a grant to The Housing Council at PathStone in Rochester, to offer the federal Rapid Rehousing Program (RRP).

This is an exciting new resource for individuals and families which have faced long-term homelessness, particularly that due to disabilities.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has designed Rapid Rehousing as a "best-practice model" for alleviating homelessness by helping families and individuals quickly exit homelessness with both housing identification and financial assistance, and to help them achieve long-term housing stability.

In addition to housing identification, other core components of RRP are move-in and rental assistance, and case management and services. In particular, the program is focused on assisting the homeless who are currently staying at shelters.

Its intent is to secure permanent, stable housing as the foundation for addressing other challenges they face. RRP can serve families, individuals, or be used as a bridge for the chronically homeless while they are waiting for Permanent Supportive Housing.

Rae Frank, the director of ILGR, notes that program eligibility will be determined based on a number of criteria, including the results of a housing assessment and the need to accommodate participants' disabilities.

More information is available from Dominique Johnson at djohnson@wnyil.org and (585) 815-8501, ext. 405.

The program for GOW builds on the lessons learned in the initial 2014 demonstration project, the Buffalo Rapid Rehousing Program (BRAP), which resulted in the Rapid Rehousing Performance Benchmarks and Program Standards.

Independent Living of the Genesee Region (ILGR) is a member of the Western New York Independent Living Inc. family of agencies that offers an expanding array of services to aid individuals with disabilities to take control of their own lives.