The deadline to apply for rent relief under a California COVID-19 program is this Thursday.So far, the state has approved more than 223,000 applications out of 506,796 for the Housing is Key program. About 76,000 applications were denied.Leer en españolGustavo Velásquez, director of housing and community development, said these rejections have been primarily due to people earning over the income limit.Of the approved applications, nearly 35% are from Hispanic households – 12% of the applications were submitted in Spanish – and Velásquez believes this number could be higher if more people apply by the deadline.”We are knowing that their challenges — number one — is language. Number two is that they just don’t know how to do it or don’t have the tools, and so, we are here to help persons that have been affected by COVID,” said Susie Alcalá of La Familia Counseling Center, which has been offering assistance filling up and submitting forms.A proposed bill that would further help with rent relief also made its way past the Assembly on Monday. If passed by the Senate, Assembly Bill 2179 would pause evictions for tenants who applied for state rent relief by the March 31 deadline and are waiting on their paperwork to be processed. The extended protections would go through June 30.The average application process is currently taking the state 90 days.”Two, three weeks ago, we were processing around 8,000 applications per week. We are right now at about 10,000. We predict to be as high as 14,000 per week so, that we finish reviewing and paying out all the applications that are warranted for the program that is pending,” added Velásquez, who said they’re hoping the process is sped up to an average of 30 days, aside from the time it takes to distribute the money to those approved.William Green is a Sacramento resident who has yet to receive his aid. He said he has no idea what he’ll be doing by Friday since he’s fallen behind on two months of rent.”My landlord has granted me three months for the rent to be delayed. I’ve come up with one, so I’m still two months behind on my rent, but I need help,” Green said.Renters who don’t apply to the program by this deadline won’t receive any protections and could receive eviction orders as soon as the start of April.If you already applied and don’t know the status of your application, you can check here.
The deadline to apply for rent relief under a California COVID-19 program is this Thursday.
So far, the state has approved more than 223,000 applications out of 506,796 for the Housing is Key program. About 76,000 applications were denied.
Gustavo Velásquez, director of housing and community development, said these rejections have been primarily due to people earning over the income limit.
Of the approved applications, nearly 35% are from Hispanic households – 12% of the applications were submitted in Spanish – and Velásquez believes this number could be higher if more people apply by the deadline.
“We are knowing that their challenges — number one — is language. Number two is that they just don’t know how to do it or don’t have the tools, and so, we are here to help persons that have been affected by COVID,” said Susie Alcalá of La Familia Counseling Center, which has been offering assistance filling up and submitting forms.
A proposed bill that would further help with rent relief also made its way past the Assembly on Monday. If passed by the Senate, Assembly Bill 2179 would pause evictions for tenants who applied for state rent relief by the March 31 deadline and are waiting on their paperwork to be processed. The extended protections would go through June 30.
The average application process is currently taking the state 90 days.
“Two, three weeks ago, we were processing around 8,000 applications per week. We are right now at about 10,000. We predict to be as high as 14,000 per week so, that we…
Read More: Deadline for COVID-19-era Calif. rent relief program is March 31