Community Resource Center responds to the COVID-19 Crisis and its aftermath
The Community Resource Center typically serves nearly 4,000 low-income and immigrant residents throughout Westchester County and is currently STILL overwhelmed by urgent calls from individuals who have lost jobs, housing, access to health care, counseling, and other vital services. Typically, we connect our communities to the resources that will help them to ultimately thrive and become economically stable. Currently, we are connecting these same communities to the resources that will enable them to simply SURVIVE.
Our client base is predominantly Latino and as such is vulnerable to being the hardest hit by COVID-19 as issues such as language barriers and fear of ICE reprisals drive their avoidance of public assistance, if available. We have a 23-year history with our community and have become a respected resource to other local organizations, as well as a dependable and trusted resource to the neediest residents of Westchester County. We are whom they turn to in times of crisis.
The global pandemic has impacted millions. It has affected low-income folks, people of color, and immigrants disproportionately. Community Resource Center has partnered with local community organizations, under the umbrella of the Coalition for Community, to respond to the urgent need for food, medical supports, and rental assistance. We honored the Coalition for Community at our annual gala this year. Learn more about what we did together in the video below.
Rental Assistance/Eviction Prevention Program
Our work is far from over. Our community clients are still facing limited work opportunities, alarming COVID-19 rates, and rental arrears that could leave them displaced or homeless and facing further trauma--even with a moratorium extension. CRC is responding to this looming eviction crisis in the following ways:
1. Addressing the Lack of Affordable Housing Locally - we are a member of the Mamaroneck Coalition for Affordable Housing - a group of Larchmont/Mamaroneck community members who are advocates of affordable housing and support vulnerable populations in finding and remaining in safe and affordable housing. To join this coalition, click the housing post below.
2. Eviction Prevention Funds - partnering with Hudson Valley Justice Center and Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP to respond to the housing crisis need, we are collectively working with both landlords and residents to work out compromises to support landlords’ needs and keep roofs over the heads of at-risk residents. This effort includes providing volunteer legal advice, and negotiations between parties and funds.
This initiative has been supported by local individual donors and local houses of worship and community organizations:
Larchmont Avenue Church
Larchmont Mamaroneck Lions Club
Larchmont Temple
St. John's Episopal Church
Westchester Jewish Center
3. Westchester Right to Counsel (RTC) - CRC is an active member on the Westchester’s Right to Counsel Coalition, which has been created to help low-income tenants facing eviction. Similar programs have already been established in cities across the country including NYC, Cleveland and Minneapolis. The RTC Coalition is asking County residents to email their local county legislator and urge them to:
CRC is ready to help eligible applicants get rental and utilities relief
New York State's Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) provides financial assistance to landlords and tenants who have experienced financial hardship due to COVID-19. The program provides:
Applicants can file directly with New York State to receive financial assistance or work through one of the County's nonprofit partners listed below or select DSS offices to receive application assistance. The program is accepting applications as of June 1, 2021 on a first-come, first-served basis. A full list of eligibility criteria is listed on the State's website.
Nonprofit partners include:
Catholic Charities of New York - (888) 744-7900
Community Housing Innovations - (914) 683-1010
Community Resource Center - (914) 835-1512
El Centro Hispano - (914) 289-0500
Hudson Valley Justice Center - (914) 308-3490
Human Development Services of Westchester - (914) 939-2005
Keeping Communities Safe - (914) 873-4900
Mount Vernon United Tenants - (914) 699-1114
Neighbors Link - (914) 666-3410
Salvation Army - (914) 949-2908
Westchester Residential Opportunities - (914) 428-4507
To apply with CRC, an appointment is required. Please contact us at 914-835-1512 to make an appointment with Angela Torero or Debora Barrios.
The Community Resource Center typically serves nearly 4,000 low-income and immigrant residents throughout Westchester County and is currently STILL overwhelmed by urgent calls from individuals who have lost jobs, housing, access to health care, counseling, and other vital services. Typically, we connect our communities to the resources that will help them to ultimately thrive and become economically stable. Currently, we are connecting these same communities to the resources that will enable them to simply SURVIVE.
Our client base is predominantly Latino and as such is vulnerable to being the hardest hit by COVID-19 as issues such as language barriers and fear of ICE reprisals drive their avoidance of public assistance, if available. We have a 23-year history with our community and have become a respected resource to other local organizations, as well as a dependable and trusted resource to the neediest residents of Westchester County. We are whom they turn to in times of crisis.
The global pandemic has impacted millions. It has affected low-income folks, people of color, and immigrants disproportionately. Community Resource Center has partnered with local community organizations, under the umbrella of the Coalition for Community, to respond to the urgent need for food, medical supports, and rental assistance. We honored the Coalition for Community at our annual gala this year. Learn more about what we did together in the video below.
Rental Assistance/Eviction Prevention Program
Our work is far from over. Our community clients are still facing limited work opportunities, alarming COVID-19 rates, and rental arrears that could leave them displaced or homeless and facing further trauma--even with a moratorium extension. CRC is responding to this looming eviction crisis in the following ways:
1. Addressing the Lack of Affordable Housing Locally - we are a member of the Mamaroneck Coalition for Affordable Housing - a group of Larchmont/Mamaroneck community members who are advocates of affordable housing and support vulnerable populations in finding and remaining in safe and affordable housing. To join this coalition, click the housing post below.
2. Eviction Prevention Funds - partnering with Hudson Valley Justice Center and Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP to respond to the housing crisis need, we are collectively working with both landlords and residents to work out compromises to support landlords’ needs and keep roofs over the heads of at-risk residents. This effort includes providing volunteer legal advice, and negotiations between parties and funds.
This initiative has been supported by local individual donors and local houses of worship and community organizations:
Larchmont Avenue Church
Larchmont Mamaroneck Lions Club
Larchmont Temple
St. John's Episopal Church
Westchester Jewish Center
3. Westchester Right to Counsel (RTC) - CRC is an active member on the Westchester’s Right to Counsel Coalition, which has been created to help low-income tenants facing eviction. Similar programs have already been established in cities across the country including NYC, Cleveland and Minneapolis. The RTC Coalition is asking County residents to email their local county legislator and urge them to:
- Expand emergency access to legal services as part of their immediate response to the current eviction crisis
- Fund a cost-benefit study proposed by national consultants Stout Risius Ross to evaluate the long-term cost-effectiveness of implementing the right to counsel countywide for approximately $55,000. (Each family that enters emergency housing in Westchester costs $39,000 per year).
CRC is ready to help eligible applicants get rental and utilities relief
New York State's Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) provides financial assistance to landlords and tenants who have experienced financial hardship due to COVID-19. The program provides:
- up to 12 months rental arrears payments for rents accrued on or after March 13, 2020
- up to three months of additional rental assistance if the household is expected to spend 30 percent or more of their gross monthly income to pay for rent
- up to 12-months of electric or gas utility arrears payments for arrears that have accrued on or after March 13, 2020
Applicants can file directly with New York State to receive financial assistance or work through one of the County's nonprofit partners listed below or select DSS offices to receive application assistance. The program is accepting applications as of June 1, 2021 on a first-come, first-served basis. A full list of eligibility criteria is listed on the State's website.
Nonprofit partners include:
Catholic Charities of New York - (888) 744-7900
Community Housing Innovations - (914) 683-1010
Community Resource Center - (914) 835-1512
El Centro Hispano - (914) 289-0500
Hudson Valley Justice Center - (914) 308-3490
Human Development Services of Westchester - (914) 939-2005
Keeping Communities Safe - (914) 873-4900
Mount Vernon United Tenants - (914) 699-1114
Neighbors Link - (914) 666-3410
Salvation Army - (914) 949-2908
Westchester Residential Opportunities - (914) 428-4507
To apply with CRC, an appointment is required. Please contact us at 914-835-1512 to make an appointment with Angela Torero or Debora Barrios.