The Mercer County Department of Human Services, in partnership with the Board of Social Services, is reopening its Emergency Rental Assistance Program to provide financial relief toward unpaid rent or utility bills for renter households in Mercer County that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until all funds are expended.

To determine eligibility, Mercer County households are required to document that someone within the household qualified for unemployment benefits, experienced a reduction in income, suffered major costs directly or indirectly due to COVID-19 that impacted the household, and can demonstrate a risk of homelessness or housing instability. A household’s income must be at or below 80 percent Area Median Income (AMI) with priority given to households at or below 30 percent AMI.

If your household or tenant is in need of assistance with unpaid rent or utilities, you are encouraged to complete an application online at https://bit.ly/ERAPAPPLYII for the English version and https://bit.ly/ERAPIISpanish for the Spanish version.

Call the Mercer County Board of Social Services for assistance at 609-389-3575, or send an email to erap@mcboss.org. For more information, social workers from the Board are available Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to assist your household.