To aid the residents of California who struggled with debt during the pandemic, a new rent relief program was made available.
A “For Rent” sign outside a house in Golden Hill, San Diego, California (Photo: KPBS)
New Hope For Tenants Who Were Denied COVID Assistance
Over 100,000 Californians who were denied of the pandemic assistance or got their assistance delayed by the housing department of the state will have another go at relief due to a newly-approved legal settlement between a coalition of anti-poverty groups and the state. Additional aid was not promised, but in accordance with the terms of the signed settlement, the Housing and Community Development Department of California has agreed to audit their previous denials and improve access for non-English speaking tenants.
In addition to the agreement of the settlement, the appealing process for applicants is now withdrawn and should a denial be approved, there should be a complete explanation as to why it was approved. The settlement is more focused on providing more information about the ethnicity, race, and location of those who were denied assistance.
The housing department was sued last summer by advocacy groups such as the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment in the Supreme Court of Alameda County since, according to the lawsuit, the state denied many renters without just explanation and provided no alternatives for those who were wrongfully denied. The department did not admit any faults but paid $1.1 million for the advocacy group’s lawyers.
READ ALSO: Home-Repair Loans Are Now Approved In The Southeast Of Cleveland
Waiting for the California Rent Relief
The department, under the settlement, has agreed to clear the applications for its applicants within half a year. Public Council attorney Faziah Malik stated that households amounting to 100,000 are still waiting for the department to make its final call.
Malik also stated they hope to help Californians with this new Californian rent relief settlement now that it has been approved. The settlement is applicable to anyone who was denied assistance from the Housing department prior to April 1 to June 6 of last year. The program has a hotline and an application page for tenants who have questions and inquiries about the status of their applications.
READ ALSO: A City In Michigan Implements A Monthly Income Program Of $530 To Select Residents
