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.
Local News: April 30, 2024
Chemung Sheriff’s Office Gets Boost for Door Breach Training The Chemung County Sheriff’s office has a new training tool. WETM reports that the Elmira-based manufacturer the Hilliard Corporation donated a reinforced door to the Sheriff’s Special Services Unit. The door will be used in training deputies in breaching locked, reinforced doors. The technique is used…
Local News: April 29, 2024
More Suspensions for Cornell Protestors- The student encampment at Cornell remains in place. On Friday four students were temporarily suspended for their participation in the self-described “Liberation Zone.” According to the Ithaca Voice, Cornell administration announced Saturday that more students would be suspended and that referrals to human resources are being made for staff and…
Local News: April 26, 2024
Adjustments Expected to Ithaca Water Bills Ithaca property owners may face unexpected water bills starting this year. The city has relied on equipment to remotely read water meters since 2005. However, batteries in the equipment started to fail during the pandemic and were never replaced. This means that many bills have been based on estimated…
Student Protestors Occupy Cornell’s Arts Quad (Local News: April 25, 2024)
Student Protestors Occupy Cornell’s Arts Quad- Activists at Cornell set up an encampment Thursday morning in the university’s arts quad. The Coalition for Mutual Liberation (or CML) called the encampment a “liberated zone” meant to further pressure Cornell to divest from what they call the university’s complicity in genocide in Gaza. Malak, a fourth year…
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.