Why is it taking so long to distribute rent relief? The City of Los Angeles ordinance protects tenants that have unpaid rent due to COVID-19 the . Available to any tenant who timely attests under penalty of perjury that he/she has not been able to pay full rent due to COVID-19-related circumstances. You can get free or low-cost legal help from statewide and local organizations. This is true even if you paid 25% of your rent due between September 2020 and September 2021 to avoid eviction. But evictions in San Francisco can move forward for nonpayment of rent, for health or safety issues, or if the owner decides to remove the property from the rental market. If you apply for rent relief, the funds will come either from the state or your own county, depending on where you live. The Act extends eviction protections to COVID-19 impacted tenants and establishes the state's Emergency Rental Assistance Program. As far as concrete steps to take, Lorraine Lpez, senior attorney with the Western Center on Law and Poverty, says that your first, immediate action should be to apply for rental assistance. And to avoid being evicted, renters who have been financially affected by COVID-19 must pay a portion of their back rent, and can apply for rent relief through state or local programs. The extension of state-level eviction protections, which were initially established over a year ago, have provided much needed housing stability for Californians throughout the pandemic. And the clock is ticking: Under state law, landlords will be able to evict tenants who failed to pay rent by April 1. Under AB 832, California will significantly increase cash assistance to low-income tenants and small landlords under the state's $5.2 billion rent relief program, making it the largest and most comprehensive COVID rental protection and rent relief program of any state in the nation. The state rent relief program continues to face other challenges that have persisted from its inception, according to another recent survey of 58 tenant organizations across the state by Tenants Together, an advocacy group. Last updatedApril 11, 2022 at 12:27PM PM. State housing officials reported 27,039 California households received a combined $320.3 million in rental assistance from the state as of Tuesday, Aug. 17 an average of $11,847 per household . Prioritizes the payment of rental arrearages. For additional questions regarding legal protections that may be available, please visit www.lawhelpca.org/ for more information. However, on April 1, if you are one of the people whose applications are still pending or under review, you can no longer legally use that defense in court. That additional layer of protection disappears on April 1. Yes, there are applications available in Spanish,Chinese,Korean, Vietnamese and Tagalog. Keep reading for what renters need to know about applying for rent relief, or skip to rent relief advice for property owners. The moment you leave, you lose many valuable protections and you may even end up with a judgment against you," says Lpez. Of 467,000 complete applications to date, 191,000 payments, or 41%, have been made, she said, and each week more than $80 million is going out to more than 8,000 households. California's eviction moratorium the state's protections for renters who have been unable to pay their rent expired at the end of September. Tenants may still be evicted for reasons such as not following the rental agreement, nuisance, committing a crime on the property, or if the owner has a justified reason for taking back the property. AB 127 by Senator Sydney Kamlager (D-Los Angeles) Arrest warrants: declaration of probable cause. The state's housing website also has a tool to look up local organizations and aid groups in your county offering assistance for renters. The analysis is based on data from the state's Housing and . Landlords can choose to accept 80 percent of any unpaid rent owed from April 1, 2020, through March 31, 2021. If you applied for rent relief and youre eligible, you may be protected from eviction: Your landlord cannot evict you if youve applied and are waiting to find out if youre eligible. Apply Now CA COVID-19 Rent Relief Housing Is Key, Orange County housing adds 16 million-dollar ZIPs, loses 13 bargain neighborhoods, State plan calls for 2.5 million new homes by 2030, double previous target, 78% of Southern California neighborhoods dont allow apartments, study finds, Real estate news: 8 Los Alamitos apartments sell for $3.9 million, or $489,375 each, Californians 35% less likely to qualify for starter home than US house hunter, budget bill the Legislature passed in February, Southern California home sales fall to all-time low, Teacher at Irvines Beckman High School arrested after recording devices found in restroom, Final bones of 50-year-old Laguna Hills mall are coming down, Killer keto? SB 152 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review Elections. Rent relief is taking a long time to be distributed, because California is far behind in its efforts to help people with COVID-19-related hardships pay their back rent. Contact a local agency to get free rental housing counseling. And remember: After March 31, you won't be able to apply for rent relief. A landlord cannot evict a tenant for non-payment of rent for the months in which rental assistance was provided. However, the Western Center on Law and Poverty's Madeline Howard says if you were denied and you believe you should qualify, you should call your local legal aid group with the denial from the state, and they can help you file an appeal. Renters can get protection against eviction and help with payments for rent and utilities. Stay in touch. Now, California has one of the countrys more successful ERA programs and serves as a model to other states and localities to adopt evidence-based best practices to expedite assistance to tenants and landlords.. The payment process . However, it's not the same way in which evictions proceeded prior to the pandemic, says Debra Carlton, executive vice president of state government affairs and compliance for the California Apartment Association. Learn the steps to pause or reduce your mortgage payments at Help for homeowners. What do I need to do to file an eviction starting on Oct. 1, 2021? However, the tenant still needs to fill out an application. Find out what youre eligible for now, and how to apply. Limiting public disclosure of eviction cases involving nonpayment of rent between March 4, 2020 and June 30, 2021. Please check with your local jurisdiction for more information. Tenants still owe COVID-19 rental debt. Check the status of your submitted application HERE. In this case, the rental property owner can proceed with an eviction. Most homeowners can pause or reduce their mortgage payments for a limited time if theyre struggling because of COVID-19. The survey found that Californias most vulnerable tenants including non-English speakers, seniors, and people with informal leases continue to face the greatest hurdles to getting rent relief. In September 2021, Heimerich of the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency said the agency had hired more staff to go through the applications and process payments more quickly. No, you do not need to be a citizen to qualify. California received about $5.2 billion from the federal government to help renters stay housed and keep landlords paid. And the clock is ticking: Under. CA COVID-19 Rent Relief Program for Local Governments, Tribes, and Utilities ERAP is for local governments within California seeking Emergency Rental Assistance Funds under California Senate Bill (SB) 91 from California's State Rental Assistance Program and/or a block grant. OAKLAND - California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued a consumer alert reminding California's tenants and homeowners of their rights and protections amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. In just six months, we have provided essential assistance to more than 44,000 households to keep families safely housed, said Governor Newsom. Find details in the FAQs about 2022 SPSL from the California Department . Monica Hernndez, a spokesperson with the California Department of Housing and Community Development, disputed the reports findings and said that the states dashboard has the most current and accurate numbers.. Read more about Alameda County's eviction moratorium. A landlord cannot evict a tenant for non-payment of rent for the months in which rental assistance was provided. Last year, three community groups sued the State of California over its Covid-19 rent relief program. Read more about what you can do if you're waiting for COVID rent relief. He said Californias denial notices are too vague, dont tell applicants which of their documents led to denial, and make it difficult for denied applicants to appeal. I can't pay this month's rent. California COVID-19 Rent Relief Program Hits Major Milestone, with More Than $1 Billion in Rent and Utility Assistance Paid or Approved for Payment Published: Sep 13, 2021 More than 44,000 households have been assisted and more than $1 billion paid or approved for payment Of the 180,000 households whose applications were approved, just more than 75,000 households were paid. SB 811 by the Committee on Governance and Finance Validations. To implement these rental The law protects tenants from eviction for not paying COVID-19 rental debt due between: For information about commercial (business), mobile home/RV, hotel/motel, transitional housing, animal, boat, or other non-residential evictions talk to a lawyer. Read more about the delays faced by rent relief applicants. "Even right now, having an application that is pending provides tenants with a layer of protection and can halt any eviction proceedings," she says. Four percent were denied, and more than half of applicants are still awaiting a response, according to the study, produced by the National Equity Atlas, Housing Now and the Western Center on Law & Poverty using state data. Rent Relief Applications are closed. The state is in charge of administering about half of that, while 25 cities and counties are administering the rest. "We call this 'self-eviction,'" she explains, and says while "many tenants think that a notice is enough to evict them, in California a landlord needs to get a court order to remove you from your home." Beginning October 1, rental property owners who have not received rent from their tenants will be allowed to proceed with an eviction. If youre experiencing homelessness or need emergency housing: If youre experiencing homelessness, you may be able to get a hotel or motel room through Project Roomkey if you: Call your local point of contact or your county welfare department to find out more. The QC Team has reviewed your application and approved it for payment. Can I still apply for rent relief? If a tenant pays at least 25 percent of his/her rent owed between September 2020 and June 2021, they are permanently protected from eviction for not paying their full rent during this period; however they will still owe their landlord all unpaid rent. Keywords: Where's My Application . The tenant can file anApplication to Prevent Forfeiture Due to COVID-19 Rental Debt(form UD-125). But even most renters whose applications were approved are still waiting for a check, according to the analysis. Some local cities and counties have their own eviction protections in place. In the Bay Area, those places are: San Francisco's local rules continue to ban evictions for a number of reasons, including owner move-in, condo conversion, breach of contract, capital improvements and demolition. Ifa tenant is approved for rental assistancemoney afteran eviction case (unlawful detainer) isstarted, they can ask the court tostop the eviction process. You do not need to provide personal information to do this. Zero-calorie sweetener linked to heart attack and stroke, study finds, OC students snowed in at science camps are coming home, Fountain Valley collision leaves one driver dead, another hospitalized, Irvine announces plan to buy, close asphalt plant and make a preserve, OC sheriffs deputies foil attempted jail escape, SoCalGas unveils $10 million to help customers hit by high prices, Orange County Sheriffs deputies foil attempted jail escape, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot concedes defeat, Denver just got a direct flight to this Caribbean island known for music history and vegetarian cooking, NYC Mayor Adams dismisses need to separate church and state, declares himself a servant of God, Zero-calorie sweetener linked to heart attack and stroke, study finds, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Working with over 130 community-based partners, we are reaching families hardest hit 85 percent being very low- or extremely low-income and making landlords whole. Renter Protections. Yes, but the last day to apply is March 31. The State will directly administer $1.5 billion through either the State Rental Assistance program or through block grants to qualifying local jurisdictions. If you applied before the deadline and you're still waiting on your application, read our guide for what you can now do before June 30. You may also be eligible for weatherization and energy efficiency services. These groups have been tracking Californias eviction and rent relief efforts from the beginning. The department operates off a prioritization list, and your application could be considered sooner if youre in an emergency situation. The state questions the analysis, but according to its figures, only 41% of applicants have been granted financial relief. , You can get a one-time payment to help you:. As our state continues to recover, we are committed to keeping families housed and recognize that California renters and landlords have enough to worry about. Your landlord is not allowed to harass you. The study also found that applicants waited a median of more than three months to get an approval, and another month to get paid 135 days total. So far, the state says, it has granted applications from 342,000 households and paid them an average of $11,800 in aid since the start of the assistance period. More than 44,000 households have been assisted and more than $1 billion paid or approved for payment, More than 243,000 applications have been received with more than $2.2 billion in rent and utility assistance requested. If youre struggling to find housing, we can help. If you are struggling to pay the rent due to a COVID-related hardship, you can get rent relief that will help you pay your future rent for up to three months. To qualify for mortgage or property tax relief, you must: To qualify for help with mortgage payments, you must also: To qualify for help with property taxes, you must also: You may be eligible for help with property taxes even if you: Learn more about who is eligible for relief. The law protects tenants from eviction for not paying COVID-19 rental debt due between: March 1, 2020 and August 31, 2020, if the tenant gave their landlord a COVID-19-Related Declaration of Financial Distressby the 15-day Notice deadline, September 1, 2020 and September 30, 2021, if the tenant gave their landlord a COVID-19-Related Declaration of Financial Distressand paid 25% of their COVID-19 rental debt by September 30, 2021. SACRAMENTO Governor Gavin Newsom today signed legislation to extend the states eviction moratorium through September 30, 2021 and clear rent debt for low-income Californians that have suffered economic hardship due to the pandemic. This has been corrected to say that an eviction can proceed if, after a landlord applies for rent relief, the tenant doesn't also apply within 20 days. Hernndez said that statement was accurate at the time. If youre being evicted and need emergency housing: You may qualify for affordable rental housing if you have low income. The state's housing website has a tool to look up local organizations and aid groups in your county offering assistance for renters. A state ban on evictions for non-payment of rent went into effect at the start of the pandemic and was extended several times. But Lopez said Housing and Community. You can find your own place and use a housing voucher to pay for all or part of the rent. Still, California received one-third of the funds reallocated by the U.S. Treasury, which Hernandez said spoke to federal officials confidence in our ability to distribute funds to households in need in a timely fashion., According to Hernndez, a budget bill the Legislature passed in February that allocates General Fund dollars to state and local rent relief programs means that every eligible applicant seeking assistance for eligible costs submitted and incurred on or before March 31, 2022, will be assisted.. The 2022 SPSL is available from January 1, 2022 through September 30, 2022. PROTECT TENANTS IMPACTED BY COVID-19. The full data set was not released to the Western Center through the state Public Records Act until after the center announced its intent to sue the Department of Housing and Community Development, which administers the program with the help of a private contractor. The dashboard allows people to see the states overall rent relief numbers, drill down to see the numbers for individual jurisdictions participating in the state program, and the income, ethnicity, age, race and other demographic characteristics of tenants who have applied. Second, Lpez recommends that you look up community organizations and nonprofit legal services agencies that assist tenantsand access their information sheets, workshops and clinics to educate you about your rights. The lawsuit said the program operates in an unclear and discriminatory way, and doesnt provide adequate explanation to renters who are denied help. Additional information about todays milestone numbers can be found on the California COVID-19 Rent Relief Programsinteractive dashboard. Is there still a statewide eviction moratorium? Have experienced a pandemic-related financial hardship. You can also reach out to your state representatives to tell them your story and how this program is holding up much needed emergency help for Californians: https://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/. Sign up for our daily newsletter. The Act includes the same eligibility and program rules as before including: For more information and resources, visit HousingIsKey.com, Biography of Lourdes M. Castro Ramrez, Secretary for BCSH. Examples include: Improving your homes weatherization and energy efficiency can help: Find information about LIHEAP services in your area. Through March 31, landlords would be blocked from evicting tenants over non-payment of rent through Sept. 30, 2021, if they had applied for rent relief from the state. What if my tenant and I have applied for rent relief but the application hasn't been approved yet? Check to see whether you qualify, and apply for help. To learn more about how we use your information, please read our privacy policy. You qualify for rent relief if you have been financially affected by the pandemic and you earn less than 80% of your areas median income. More than $526 million of the $1 billion in rental and utility assistance has already been distributed to 44,432 low-income California households who suffered financial hardship because of the pandemic. Lastly, Public Counsel may be able to share your story with elected officials. InfoonCalifornia's COVID-19 Rent Relief Program. Heimerich of the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency says its very rare for people to get denied for rent relief, happening in less than 1% of cases.