Chu Urges Tenants and Landlords to Apply for Rent Relief As Soon As Possible

Rep. Judy Chu (D-Pasadena) is encouraging more tenants and landlords to apply for the California COVID-19 Rent Relief Program.

Congress has provided over $46.5 billion to help renters and landlords across the country to ensure that no renter loses their home during a global pandemic. The state of California has received $5.2 billion of those funds to cover up to 100 percent of unpaid or future rent and may also help low-income renters pay some or all their unpaid utility bills, including gas, electric, water and internet services.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has created unparalleled financial difficulties for so many families through no fault of their own. And with the Delta variant surging in L.A. County, ensuring everyone has a safe and stable place to live is more important than ever,” Chu said.

“Congress wanted to protect renters from eviction both through eviction moratoriums and direct rental assistance, and California has received over $5 billion to ensure everyone remains housed,” she said.

“I strongly encourage both renters and landlords to submit an application for rent relief at HousingIsKey.com, or to contact a local partner organization listed on that website to help you with your application as soon as possible. And for our immigrant communities, please know that the state does not collect any information regarding your immigration status. So if you are undocumented or a green card holder, you can still be eligible for aid. Please apply today,” Chu said.

The California COVID-19 Rent Relief program improved the application process and more than doubled the number of case managers and local partners to assist applicants in applying. Across the state, over 150 community-based partners, including Chinatown Service Center and other organizations in L.A. County, are providing application assistance via phone, in-office, and virtual, and have computers/tablets available as well as document drop-off options for applicants in a variety of languages.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a new eviction moratorium last month.

The order will expire on Oct. 3 and applies in United States counties experiencing substantial and high levels of community transmission levels of the virus.

Currently, Pasadena commercial and residential tenants impacted by the virus are protected by a local moratorium, which bans evictions during a public health emergency.

However, the local moratorium is not rent forgiveness. In Pasadena, tenants will be required to pay back rent within six months after the emergency ends.
Tenants can access nearly $47 billion in federal money earmarked to help make payments.

Only $3 billion of those funds had been distributed by the end of June. An additional $1 billion was supposed to go out in July, according to an article in USA Today, quoting the National Council of State Housing Agencies.

More than 3.5 million people nationwide have said they face eviction by Oct.1, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey.