SACRAMENTO, Calif. — In December, the stimulus law passed by Congress included $25 billion in rental relief funds, with an estimated $2.6 billion coming to California.
So, who qualifies? According to the National Council of State Housing Agencies:
Renter households with incomes no more than 80 percent of area median income (AMI) who meet the following conditions:
- One or more individual in the household has qualified for unemployment benefits or has experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs, or experienced other financial hardship due directly or indirectly to the coronavirus outbreak; and
- One or more individual in the household can demonstrate a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability which may include:
- A past due utility or rent notice or an eviction notice;
- Unsafe or unhealthy living conditions; or
- Any other evidence of such risk as determined by the grantee
Priority will be given to lower income households and those in which someone has been unemployed for more than 90 days.
Funds must be used for things like rent, past due rent, utilities, and home energy costs. If the landlord or utility service participates in the Federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program, the money will directly go to them. If not, the money will be sent to the applicant.
The big question for most people is when will the funds be available? A State of California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency spokesperson told ABC10, " We continue to work in partnership with the Legislature to iron out the details of when this will work in California."
What is for certain is that the Treasury Department has to send California its share within 30 days of the Act being signed by the president, which happened on December 27th.
