The Legal Aid Society is urging New Yorkers in need of rental assistance to apply for the state’s Emergency Rent Relief Program (ERAP), which reopened on Tuesday, January 11, as reported by AMNY.

The online portal was reopened after a court ruling in Hidalgo v. New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance — class action litigation brought by Legal Aid—which ordered OTDA to resume accepting applications.

Although no federal money is currently available for NYS ERAP, more funding may become available in the Spring, so tenants should still apply. While an application for ERAP is pending eviction proceedings cannot move forward, so applying before the State’s eviction moratorium expires on January 15 is critical.

“New York’s ERAP portal has reopened, resuming access to rental assistance for our clients and countless other families at risk of eviction,” said Ed Josephson, Supervising Attorney in the Civil Law Reform Unit at The Legal Aid Society. “We urge all New Yorkers in need of rent relief to immediately apply for funds through the OTDA web portal, as a pending application will provide temporary protection from eviction, regardless of whether the state receives additional funding. We are proud of our advocacy on behalf of our clients and all low-income New Yorkers, and will continue to monitor the implementation of statewide rent relief funds.”

Learn more about applying for ERAP here.