The City of Long Beach has once again extended the deadline for it’s emergency rental assistance program. Applications are now due by July 11, 2021, representing the City’s second 30-day extension for the program.
“Many of our residents who have been financially impacted by COVID-19 still need help with rent,” Mayor Robert Garcia said. “We encourage those who may be eligible for assistance to apply to take advantage of this program before time runs out.”
The application period for the program—which provides monetary assistance to help pay back-due rent and utility payments—began on April 12 of this year.
As of Monday, May 17, Long Beach tenants and landlords had requested approximately $30 million in rental assistance, according to the Development Services Department Neighborhood Services Bureau.
Funding for the program totals $51.4 million from a combination of state and federal dollars.
The State’s eviction moratorium will expire on June 30, 2021. Those with back-due rental payments may be subject to eviction on this date.
Eligibility requirements for emergency rental assistance
To qualify for the program, applicants must demonstrate financial hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, directly or indirectly. Assistance can be used to pay back-due rent from April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021 and past-due utility payments.
Residential tenants must currently live in the same Long Beach unit for which they are seeking assistance.
Tenants must have a household income at or below 80% of the area median income. A two-person household at 80% AMI would make $72,100 — 50% AMI would be $45,050 for the same household size.
One or more individuals in the household must also demonstrate a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability.
The program will prioritize: residents at or below 50% of the area median income, households with past-due rents, lower-income tenants who have been underemployed for 90 days or more and tenants who are at risk of housing instability.
Under the program, landlords are directly reimbursed for 80% of their eligible tenants’ unpaid rent from April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021. Landlords must agree to waive 20% of unpaid rent for that time period to receive 80% of rental payments.
If landlords choose not to participate in the program, tenants can apply for assistance that would pay for 25% of unpaid rent between April 1, 2020 and March 31, 2021.
Tenants can also apply for past-due utility payments and 25% of future rent payments for up to three months.
Residents who apply to Long Beach’s program should not apply for California’s rental assistance program. To learn more about the program’s various income and eligibility guidelines, visit longbeach.gov/erap.
