As the country is trying to recover from the pandemic, the disability community is also discussing how to move forward, what lessons we can learn, and what policies need to change to realize the goals of the ADA more fully.  There are many advocates having important discussions around workplace accessibility after the pandemic.  Due to the impact that COVID had on long-term care facilities, there are discussions and legislative proposals to increase access to home and community-based services and to increase the workforce supporting that system.  With a variety of states introducing voting legislation, including here in Pennsylvania, there has been an increased focus on issues that voters with disabilities still face.  Even though there are more ways to vote, many barriers remain for the community.  These barriers including inaccessible polling places, policies that do not consider the disability community and inaccessible processes in exercising their right to vote.

These discussions are important, and these issues are critical to full inclusion for people with disabilities.  Just as important is ensuring that the voices of people with disabilities are heard and considered.  Contact your legislators, participate in advisory committee meetings, and school board meetings and make sure that the disability perspective is heard.  DRP looks forward to working with the community to continue improving accessibility and inclusion for all people with disabilities.

You can find out more about voting access issues here in Pennsylvania by reading our Election Access Report here:

Most people use family, friends, and professionals to advise and guide them about important decisions that they need to make.  Supported decision-making recognizes that people with disabilities use these same trusted people to help them understand situations and choices so they can make their own decisions.  Supported decision-making can be a formal or informal network of people who assist the person with a disability to understand the choices and consequences of decisions.  The freedom to make decisions, even decisions that might have adverse consequences, is fundamental to personal autonomy and self-determination.

This month, DRP staff attorney Elysia Mancini Duerr was a guest on a podcast hosted by Judy Heumann, an internationally recognized disability rights activist.  They discussed guardianship and supported decision-making. You can listen to that podcast here.

Disability Rights Pennsylvania has many resources and videos on supported decision-making.  You can find our resources below. Please contact us to learn about alternatives to guardianship and ways to support individuals with disabilities in making decisions about their own lives.

The Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) is available for renters of residential properties who are at risk of eviction or utility shutoffs due to hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Landlords can apply for assistance on behalf of tenants and receive assistance directly if the tenant is eligible. If you are in need of assistance, don’t wait. Apply today.

How Can ERAP Help?

Households may be eligible for up to 12 months of assistance to cover past-due or future rent and/or utility payments. ERAP can also help cover rehousing costs for someone who is currently experiencing homelessness or in unstable housing. The amount of a household’s monthly rent or utility bills does not preclude eligibility, but the amount of ERAP assistance provided to a household is determined by program administrators at the county level.

Assistance can be provided to a tenant in a residential rental property for future rental payments and for unpaid rental or utility arrears that were accrued on or after March 13, 2020. Counties may choose to provide additional assistance to eligible households if funds remain available. 

Residential tenants may apply for themselves, or a landlord may apply on behalf of a current tenant. Also, landlords do not have to agree to participate in the program for tenants to receive assistance. 

Eligibility

To qualify for assistance, a household must be responsible to pay rent on a residential property and meet each of the following criteria:

• One or more people within the household have qualified for unemployment benefits, had a decrease in income, had increased household costs, or experienced other financial hardship due directly or indirectly to the COIVD-19 pandemic; AND
• One or more individuals in the household can show a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability; AND
• The household has an income at or below 80 percent of area median income, which varies by county. Income limits by county are available can be found here. Resources (like bank accounts and cars) are not relevant for ERAP eligibility. 

How to Apply

Pennsylvanians can learn more about how to apply in their specific county at www.dhs.pa.gov/erap. The online application is available in English and Spanish. Applications can also download and print an application or obtain an application from their county ERAP office. DHS has also translated the paper application into Russian, Vietnamese, Arabic, Chinese, and Cambodian and made those available to all participating counties. 

Applicants will need to provide the following information: head of household’s personal information, income information for all household members 18 and older, rental lease and amount owed, landlord’s name, and landlord’s contact information. If applying for utility assistance, applicants must provide utility expenses and utility provider information.

Applicants should be prepared to provide documents that substantiate the information provided, such as pay stubs, tax filings, unemployment letters, and rental/utility arrears. However, if applicants do not have documents, county ERAP offices will work with applicants to obtain documents or written attestations.

More information about ERAP can be found at www.dhs.pa.gov/erap. Do not wait -- apply now.

Having trouble viewing this email? View it in your web browser