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City of Newburyport Announces COVID-19 Rental Assistance Program

Posted on: June 11, 2020 - 1:42pm

 Mayor Donna Holaday and Director of Planning and Development Andy Port are pleased to announce the launch of a Rental Assistance Program, which will provide funds for residents who are unable to pay residential rent due to circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The program will provide assistance to those who have been adversely affected by the recent pandemic,” Mayor Holaday said. “Our goal is to ensure that our residents are able to stay in their homes.”

Funds from the City’s Affordable Housing Trust are available for qualified households and will be distributed by The Pettengill House, Inc.

“We are pleased to formally partner with the City of Newburyport to help facilitate this important need-based program and assist Newburyport residents who are struggling due to the financial impact of COVID-19,” said The Pettengill House, Inc. Executive Director Deb Smith. “We commend Mayor Holaday’s timely response to the needs of struggling individuals and families during these challenging times.”

Funds will be made available to Newburyport residents with an income 80% or less of the Area Median Income (AMI) who provide evidence of inability to pay residential rent due to COVID-19. The income limits are as shown below:

Qualified households are eligible for up to three months of rental assistance, with a maximum monthly dollar amount of $1,500, for a total of $4,500 per household.

Applicants will be required to provide proof of an adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their ability to pay rent. They will also be required to provide financial documentation as part of the application.

Applications for the program may be found on The Pettengill House, Inc website.

Applicants can fill out the application form online and upload the required documentation directly to the site for submission or print a copy of the application and mail it along with the required documentation to the following address: The Pettengill House, Inc., 21 Water Street, Suite 4A, Amesbury, Massachusetts 01913.

Hard copies of the application can be obtained by calling The Pettengill House, Inc at 978-463-8801. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, until all funds allocated for the program have been disbursed.

The Affordable Housing Trust funds are dedicated to supporting affordable housing within the City of Newburyport. For more information about the program, contact The Pettengill House, Inc. through their website here or the City of Newburyport Planning Office at website here.