Call for partners issued for state’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program

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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Local organizations and agencies interested in partnering in the state’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program are urged to take part in a webinar this week.

The Local Initiatives Support Corp., or LISC, was selected by the state of California to bring together ground-level partnerships throughout California communities and tribal territories to assist the state as it implements the Emergency Rental Assistance Program.

A webinar for potential partners will take place at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18.

Register here.

Priority applications will be reviewed on Friday, Feb. 19, at 3 p.m.

Created by the COVID-19 Tenant Relief Act, the California Emergency Rental Assistance Program outlines eviction protections and was signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Jan. 29.

The California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency and the Department of Housing and Community Development will have oversight of this effort and will work with LISC to actively engage diverse and trusted community-based organizations and tribes, to coordinate an outreach campaign that is person- and community-centered.

As the state’s local partner network coordinator, LISC seeks to identify local partners that will drive in-community efforts to ensure that all Californians are able to access these important rental and utility assistance resources.

LISC will select and contract with approximately one to six organizations in each county. By establishing the local partner network, LISC seeks to ensure all regional geographies, target communities and tribal territories most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic throughout California have access to the program.

Funding for the State Emergency Rental Assistance Program comes from the $2.6 billion in federal rental assistance approved in December 2020 and will target aid to income-qualified tenants who are most at-risk of eviction.

Participating landlords will be compensated for 80 percent of an eligible household’s rental arrears accrued between April 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021, and in accepting that payment agree to forgive any remaining balance owed by the household for that period.

The Emergency Rental Assistance Program will begin accepting applications on March 15.

More information can be found at www.HousingIsKey.com.