Long Beach is rolling out fast relief for tenants on the brink, opening applications for a new emergency rental assistance program on Thursday, April 23, 2026. The Long Beach Renter Aid program is built to get money out quickly to renters at risk of losing their homes by paying landlords and utility companies directly so families can stabilize without waiting weeks for a check. City officials say the first application window will run through May 8, 2026, and that the program will give priority to seniors, people facing eviction and households hit by sudden cuts to public benefits.
The program is starting with $2.7 million in funding from Los Angeles County’s Measure A and is expected to help roughly 175 to 250 households, with assistance capped at $9,000 per household or up to six months of rent, whichever is less, as reported by Long Beach Post. Officials say the aid can be used for overdue rent, past-due utilities, moving costs and security deposits. Deputy City Manager Teresa Chandler told reporters that checks could start going out as early as May 8, and local coverage has framed the launch as one of the first renter-focused supports to actually hit the ground using Measure A dollars.
How the program works
Applications are available both online and in person. According to the City of Long Beach, staff will accept walk-in applications Monday through Thursday at the city’s Multi-Service Center and on Fridays at the Housing Authority. After this initial opening, the city plans to open new application windows every month from the 5th to the 12th until the money runs out.
The city’s program page notes that application materials are available in Khmer, Spanish and Tagalog. Applicants are told to expect a response within five business days after each application window closes. Anyone who is not selected in one round is allowed to try again in later windows, which city staff say is meant to keep the process open for households whose situations may change from month to month.
Who the city is prioritizing
The program is not strictly first come, first served. It prioritizes residents who are 55 and older, households that are at imminent risk of eviction and those affected by the loss of federal benefits or immigration enforcement, Long Beach Post reported. At a news conference announcing the rollout, Mayor Rex Richardson called the funding “a lifeline” for residents on the edge.
Susannah Sngiem of the United Cambodian Community told reporters that detentions have left some local families without their primary earners, putting rent out of reach almost overnight. City staff say case managers will review documents and move the most urgent cases forward first, an approach officials argue is necessary when dollars are limited and the need is high.
Where the money comes from
The rental assistance is funded through Measure A, the half-cent Los Angeles County sales tax that voters approved in November 2024 to pay for homelessness prevention, services and housing, according to Los Angeles County. Measure A directs new revenue to cities and county agencies to support tenant protections and prevention programs, and Long Beach’s Renter Aid launch is among the earliest local examples of that funding being translated into direct help for renters.
What applicants should bring and expect
Prospective applicants are urged to gather key documents before applying, whether they go online or show up in person. The city recommends bringing a photo ID, proof of income, any eviction or pay-or-quit notices and contact information for the landlord. The city’s program page lists the full application, income limits based on area median income (AMI) and other requirements in one place so residents can double-check that they qualify.
According to the city, there is about $1.7 million in rental support currently available to be paid directly to landlords and utility providers. Because the total pot is limited, officials are encouraging residents to apply during the current window, which is open through May 8, or in future monthly windows from the 5th to the 12th until funds are depleted. Anyone facing an immediate housing emergency can call (562) 570-4500 for help and more information about the Long Beach Renter Aid program.
