As the struggle with pandemic-era debts continues, Los Angeles County has thrown a lifeline to landlords and tenants with the resurrection of the Rent Relief Program, confirmed by the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs (DCBA). An additional $68 million in grant funding has been allocated for distribution to those who have been hit hardest by the financial aftershocks of COVID-19, as rents remain collected.
Applications opened earlier this week with a cut-off date set for June 4, and landlords who have born the brunt of unpaid rent can heave a sigh of relief, knowing they might receive up to $30,000 per rental unit, this round is forecast to ease the burden of evictions looming over vulnerable tenants, and the DCBA has outlined priority will be granted based on factors including geographical need, household income levels, and possession of fewer than five rental units.
In an endeavor to target the most affected, eligibility for the program is determined firstly by the rental location, resting on the high-need areas as pinpointed by the LA County Equity Explorer Tool. Emphasis is also placed on those landlord or tenant duos where the household income doesn't exceed 80% of the LA County Area Median Income (AMI). In the expectations set by the County, landlords would be able to clear tenants' debts entirely within the span dating from April 1, 2022, which is when the relief funds apply until the present.
According to the press release on Santa Monica's official website, DCBA urges landlords who have previously received a grant or submitted an application not to reapply, as their cases will be revisited for any potential additional arrears that fall under the program's purview, the authorities promise a thorough review and subsequent notification if further eligibility is confirmed.
Landlords interested in seeking this financial support can plunge into the application process by visiting the official program portal at lacountyrentrelief.com. While the process is competitive and the submission of a complete application doesn’t ensure funding, early birds stand a better chance as applications are encouraged to be filed without delay; assistance in a bouquet of languages is generously on offer from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily for those navigating the application's complexities.
