News Flash

City and county officials are encouraging eligible residents to apply for financial assistance with overdue rent and utilities bills before the moratorium on evictions expires July 31 and will offer assistance with applications outside of normal work hours for people who need help. The federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program, or ERAP, assists with rent and utilities, to include electricity, water/sewer, natural gas, propane, garbage (county residents), fuel oil and internet. The program is open to all renters in Forsyth County who have financial hardship because of the coronavirus pandemic and have a household income 80 percent or less of area median income, which varies by household size and is $55,100 for a family of four.    

Marla Newman, the director of community development for the city, said that officials want to prevent a wave of evictions after the moratorium ends. “We want people to realize that they should not wait until the end of July to file,” Newman said. “They should apply now to allow plenty of time for their application to be processed and a check mailed out.”

An application link and complete eligibility information is posted at Forsyth.cc/ERAP. Residents can get help with their applications at the ERAP Application Lab at Forsyth County Department of Social Services, 741 Highland Ave., Winston-Salem. Appointments are available from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Links to schedule an appointment are posted at Forsyth.cc/ERAP (Appointment Link) and CityofWS.org/ERAP. 

Officials have also announced that the ERAP Application Lab will be open outside of normal work hours:

• The last three Tuesdays in July (July 13, 20 & 27) from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. by appointment.
• Saturday, July 17, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.  Applicants with appointments will be seen from 9 to 11 a.m., after which walk-ins will be accommodated. Doors will close at noon to allow time for walk-ins to complete their applications by 1 p.m.

Additionally, officials will be at a Sixth Congressional District event Thursday, July 15, to help residents schedule an appointment in the application lab. That event will be 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Rupert Bell Neighborhood Center, 1501 Mt. Zion Place, Winston-Salem.(Facility Information Link)

Complete eligibility information, links to apply online and an updated chart of income limits for households of 1 through 8 people are posted at CityofWS.org/ERAP and Forsyth.cc/ERAP.

 Applicants should bring to the lab:

• Identification for themselves and their co-applicant, if any. (Photo ID is preferred, such as a driver’s license, state ID card, military ID card or passport. Other forms of ID can also be used, including birth certificates, Medicaid or Medicare card, a signed Social Security card or an ID card issued by employer or religious organization/place of worship.)
• Proof of income. (Can be pay stubs for the last 30 days, 2020 W-2 form, award letters for SSI, SSDI or child support.)
• Their lease agreement.
• An eviction notice, or statement or bill from their landlord or utility company showing what they owe.
• Proof of hardship. This could include change in income or a personally written statement of financial hardship.