CNMIDR

Citizenship:

Currently, the CCERA program is being offered to US Citizens and qualifying individuals with a Permanent Resident Card or Long-Term CNMI Resident status. The CCERA management team is working hard to establish program qualifications pertaining to citizenship. Any updates or further information will be announced to the public as soon as possible through various mediums.

CCERA Assistance:

The coverage period for arrears assistance is from March 13, 2020 to April 2021. Total financial CCERA assistance shall not exceed twelve months.

• Rental Arrears
  • If applicable to the household, rental arrears will be prioritized over prospective rent assistance
• Utility Arrears
  • If applicable to the household, utility arrears will be prioritized over prospective utility assistance
• Prospective Rent and Utility
  • Limited to three months of assistance with the option of reapplying for additional assistance that will be subject to total months of assistance provided to a household and availability of funds
• Other expenses related to housing incurred due, directly or indirectly, to COVID-19
  • Rental security deposits or reasonable accrued late fees during the coverage period

Prioritization:

CCERA will prioritize application selection based on the following:

• The income of the household does not exceed 50% of the area median income (AMI) OR
• 1 or more individuals within the household are unemployed as of the date of the application for assistance and have not been employed for the 90-day period preceding such date.

Eligibility Criteria:

To be eligible for the program, households must meet ALL of the following criteria:

• Renter: household must have an obligation to pay rent
• Eligible Income: household income must fall at or below 80% of the CNMI AMI
• Household must have experienced financial hardship directly or indirectly related to COVID-19:
  • Qualified for unemployment benefits OR
  • Experienced a reduction in household income OR
  • Incurred significant costs OR
  • Experienced other financial hardship due, directly or indirectly, to COVID-19
• Household is at risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability

Other Eligibility Criteria:

Households currently receiving rental or utility assistance, such as Section 8 or Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), may apply to cover their portion of rent and/or utility. The household must certify that the CCERA assistance requested does not duplicate any other assistance, including federal, state, or local assistance provided for the same costs. Duplication of assistance is subject to CCERA verification.

CNMI Area Median Income Levels:

To be eligible, the combined income of all members in the household must fall at or below 80% of the AMI.

Fraud and Duplication Benefits:

• All applicants and landlords must certify under penalty of perjury under the laws of the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands that the information entered into the application is true and correct, as of the date of its submission and for any subsequent modifications. Any false, misleading or missing information will result in denial of the CCERA application and may be punishable by the fullest extent of the law. Making a false statement under penalty of perjury is a crime and is punishable as such.
• Households and landlords must not receive any other forms of rental or utility subsidy or assistance for the same purposes being requested. If it is determined that payments issued by this program are a duplication of benefits, the recipient of the payment will be responsible to re-pay CCERA in full.

Documents requested:

• Completed CCERA PRE-APPLICATION Form:
  • Includes map and physical address form of current housing location
• Proof of Identification for all Household Members:
  • Copy of Valid Photo ID (i.e., Driver’s License or Mayor’s Office ID) AND
  • Copy of Social Security Card
• Proof of Citizenship Qualification for Head of Household:
  • Copy of US Passport, Permanent Resident Card, Birth or Naturalization Certificate, Birth Certificate, or Valid USCIS documentation
• Proof of Income for all Household Members:

[Household must provide all income documents below that apply to each household member]

• Most recent pay stubs for the preceding two months from pre-application date OR
• 2020 W-2 OR
• 2020 Filed 1040 Tax Record OR
• If applicable, most recent unemployment benefits (i.e., PUA) received for the preceding two months from pre-application date OR
• If applicable, other most recent sources of income (i.e., SSI, Retirement, etc.) for the preceding two months from pre-application date

• If applicable, Proof of Furlough/Loss of Income:
  • Documentation of Furlough from Employer OR
  • Termination Notice OR
  • Notice of Reduced Hours
• Proof of Rental Obligation for Prospective Rent and/or Rental Arrears Assistance:

[Documents may be provided to CCERA directly from Landlord to include with an application]

• Current Lease/Rental Agreement AND
• Landlord’s Statement of Account as proof of monthly rental payment pattern AND
• Landlord’s Business License and W-9 for the Apartment/House Rental Business
• If applicable, for rental arrears, housing eviction notice or overdue bill with rental arrears amount owed

• Proof of Utility Obligation for Prospective Utility and/or Utility Arrears Assistance:
  • Most recent CUC bill for the residential unit OR
  • Evidence of payments to the utility provider OR
  • If applicable, for utility arrears, CUC Disconnection Notice

Location:

Office of the Commonwealth COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance (CCERA)

Chalan Kanoa, Saipan 96950

For pick up and submission of applications and for scheduled face to face appointments.