Now that federal unemployment aid has expired—and its extension seems questionable—it’s a downright scary time when the rent is due in one of the country’s most affordable metro areas. But Los Angeles County is going to help some of the renters most in need right now.
The L.A. County Covid-19 Rent Relief program will provide up $10,000 for those renters (residential only, not commercial) who’ve been negatively impacted by the pandemic and who earn below the county’s median income. Applications for the relief will open on August 17, and those accepted will be chosen by lottery.
Before we go on, we should mention one huge caveat: The program is not open to residents of the City of Los Angeles, which already launched (and then quickly filled) its own rent relief program. You can check out the full list of eligible zip codes here. In addition, the county says that 50% of the funding will be reserved for residents in areas most at risk for evictions, and will expedite some of that assistance; those neighborhoods include small parts of West Hollywood and Santa Monica; most of Compton, Lynwood, Florence-Firestone, Hawthorne, Inglewood and Pomona; and many parts of the Gateway Cities and the Antelope Valley.
Now for the details: Those who are currently at 30% of the median income ($23,700 for a one-person household) can receive up to $10,000, while those at 50% of the median income ($39,450 for a one-person household) can get up to $7,500. You’ll also need to have experienced a loss of income, reduced hours or medical costs due to Covid-19 or the government-ordered emergency measures. We suggest checking this FAQ from the county for all of the details.
If you meet those requirements (and don’t live in public housing), you can submit an application starting on August 17 and until August 31. You’ll need to provide proof of tenancy with the application, as well as income information for each member of your household. Note that the application won’t ask about immigration status, as it’s open to all renters regardless of their status. And if you don’t have access to the internet, you can apply over the phone by calling 211 from 8am to 8pm daily.
One other note: The relief won’t go into your pocket, but will instead provide your landlord with a one-time payment. To accept the payment, your landlord must agree to waive any late fees or interest—which they technically already need to agree to per the ongoing emergency renter protections.