Some renters and property owners have expressed frustrations with the slow rate at which rental aid money has been rolling out. As local eviction moratoriums are set to end on Sept. 30, advocates for both landlords and renters say they should still apply for rent relief.
Of the roughly $64 million the city has received to aid tenants and landlords during the pandemic, just over $12 million to date has been allocated.
Long Beach has distributed or approved about 10% of the $51 million it received for rent relief. The deadline to apply for that money is Sunday.
California lawmakers on Thursday agreed to use $2.6 billion in federal stimulus money to pay off up to 80% of some tenants’ unpaid rent — but only if landlords agree to forgive the rest of their debt.
More than 1,700 applications were selected through the lottery process.
Applications will be accepted between Monday, Aug. 17 and Monday, Aug. 31.
Renters who receive subsidies under Section 8 are not eligible.
The current moratorium is set to expire at the end of the month but proposed changes could extend it to August and repayment of back rent to next May.
The emergency rental assistance program would seek to leverage funding the county is receiving through the coronavirus relief package recently signed by the president.
