The Legal Aid Society called attention to the lower-than-expected number of applications submitted to ERAP – the Emergency Rental Assistance Program launched June 1st to provide rent relief to New Yorkers at risk of eviction or housing instability – due to the absence of a statewide public awareness campaign administered by the Cuomo Administration and a cumbersome application process, as reported by Crain’s New York.

Data released by the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) for the entire month showed that 119,209 applications came in across the state through June 29; 91,457 applications were from New York City.

Judith Goldiner, Attorney-in-Charge of the Civil Law Reform Unit at The Legal Aid Society, expressed concern that awareness of the program still wasn’t as high as it should be, particularly in communities that need the most help.

“We are concerned that it should be higher, given the need,” she said. “We are also concerned that lower-income folks aren’t applying because there hasn’t been enough outreach.”