Gov. Hochul is Investing $1M to Speed up Rent Relief
(Jimmy Jordan / WRFI)
ITHACA, NY -- New York is putting $1 million dollars into marketing and outreach efforts for the State’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP).
The $2.7 billion dollar Rental Assistance Program was dubbed ‘poorly managed’ by the State Comptroller’s Office two weeks ago, namely for it’s poor outreach, sluggish application approvals, and the lack of detail gathered in applicant data.
The Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance is administering the program. Governor Kathy Hochul has aimed to improve ERAP by funding outreach, but also by reassigning 100 contracted staff to work with landlords on completing applications.
Landlords and tenants both need to apply for either to see any ERAP funds. Assistance from the program can cover up to 12 months of past-due rent and utility payments, and up to three months of prospective rental assistance.
Assistance applying for ERAP in Schuyler County can be found through Catholic Charities of Chemung and Schuyler Counties. ERAP assistance in Tompkins County can be found through the Human Services Coalition of Tompkins County.
Youth Farm Project Celebrates Earth Week with Greta Garrison of the Youth Radio Project
Youth Farm Project participants Stella Sapp-Dietrich and Etienne Exantus and Ray Hage Assistant Director of Cornell’s Science & Technology Entry Program (STEP) with Greta Garrison of the Youth Radio Project on WRFI.
Local News: April 24, 2024
Pilot Program in Tompkins Adds Emergency Responders Emergency response times in Tompkins County should be getting shorter. State Senator Lea Webb was in Ithaca Tuesday to announce additional state funding for the county’s Rapid Medical Response program. The two-year pilot program operates three emergency response vehicles and employs nine EMTs. According to Webb, emergency response…
Local News: April 23, 2024
Cornell Undergrad Vote Supports Gaza Ceasefire, Divestment Last week Cornell undergraduate voted in a referendum polling their views on a ceasefire in Gaza and divestment from 10 military contractors supplying Israel. According to the Cornell Sun, nearly 50% of eligible students voted. And votes for a ceasefire and divestment outweighed those against by nearly two…
Local News: April 22, 2024
Public Hearing on ICSD Budget Announced Ithaca City School District has announced a public hearing on its proposed 2024-2025 operating budget. The meeting will take place May 14 at 5:30 p.m. at York Hall at Ithaca High School. Last week we reported on a 5-hour meeting during which the board heard from taxpayers concerned with…
WRFI-Meeting Minutes-March 2024
WRFI Board of Directors Meeting Tuesday, March 12th, 2024 In Attendance: -Peter Bakija -Corinne Shanahan -Amie Herman -Joe Romano -Carlos Gutierrez -Talaya Centeno -Mike Cook -Robin Elliott -John Young -Felix Teitelbaum Not in attendance: -Joseph Haefeli -Fred Balfour Call to Order at 6:07 pm. Agenda Items: Board Reflections: Mike asks questions as a new…
CREATIVES: New Voices Literary Festival Preview with Raul Palma [AUDIO]
Listen to author Raul Palma in conversation with student organizers April Morales, Emily Trage, Riley Rhoder and Professor Jacob White. The 2024 New Voices Festival runs from April 24-26 at Ithaca College and in your community.
Local News: April 19, 2024
Case Against Day Hall Protestors Conditionally Dismissed A case against Cornell student and staff protestors will likely be dismissed. Twenty-four members of the Coalition for Mutual Liberation who staged a sit in at Day Hall in March appeared before Judge Seth Peacock Wednesday. The charges will be dropped provided the defendants don’t commit further violations…
Local News: April 17, 2024
ICSD Board Cuts Proposed Budget Ahead of May 21 Vote The Ithaca City School Board has made cuts to their proposed budget. According to the Ithaca Times, the adjustment was made after a 5-hour meeting with the public. Board members heard from a range of homeowners who spoke to the effect of rising taxes on…
Tune in, Turn on, and Take Part! Join Us for WRFI’s Spring “Fun” Drive and Be Part of this Community-Powered Radio Revolution!
What does community radio mean to you? We think this commercial-free, free-form, independent station helps make our listeners lives-and life in our communities-just a little better. We strive to make programing that opens ears, opens hearts, and leads us to ask important questions about our world. Even if it’s just to ask yourself, “What in…
Local News: April 16, 2024
Graduate students at Cornell are pushing the administration to act more quickly in negotiations with their union. According to the Ithaca Voice, last week about 200 graduate students rallied at Day Hall. Organizer Sadie Seddon-Stettler said that the university isn’t making contract negotiation a priority. The union maintains a dashboard showing the status of various…