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Video: Help Paying for Rent and Utilities in Philadelphia

An innovative program protects thousands of city residents from eviction while ensuring that landlords continue to be paid


PHL Rent Assist, the city of Philadelphia’s rental assistance program, was launched in May 2020 with federal pandemic relief dollars in response to the increase in evictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, PHL Rent Assist — along with its sister initiative, Philadelphia's Eviction Diversion program — is credited with reducing eviction filings by 75 percent, with more than 39,000 households benefiting from $253 million in rental assistance and utility payments. An AARP Community Challenge grant funded a pilot for the program in 2019, paving the way for the positive impacts experienced by residents today. 

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Page published October 2022

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