Landlords may soon be able to apply for Long Beach’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program on behalf of their tenants under a proposal authored by Vice Mayor Rex Richardson.
This coming Tuesday, Oct. 5, the Long Beach City Council will consider directing the Department of Development Services to evaluate the feasibility of such a program—which would establish a single application for landlords with multiple tenants who may need assistance.
The rental assistance would cover past-due rents and up to three months of future rent payments for eligible tenants.
The City of Long Beach has spent $18 million of its $64 million rental assistance funds to help over 2,500 households, according to a report accompanying the agenda item.
At its current rate of disbursement, Long Beach will not be able to pay out its full allocation until August of 2022, according to the report.
Beginning Sept. 30, 2021, all unspent monies will have to be returned to the Treasury to be re-dispersed to “high-performing” jurisdictions that have been able to allocate at least 65% of their rental assistance funds.
In Long Beach, 6,000 applications are unfilled and another 8,500 are incomplete, according to the report.
The item cites the burden of paperwork as one reason for incomplete applications, which could be alleviated by allowing landlords to apply on behalf of their tenants.
The item also requests Development Services to publicize data regarding rental assistance on a public dashboard.
The next Long Beach City Council meeting will take place Tuesday, Oct. 5 at 5 p.m. at the Civic Chambers, 411 W Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90802.
