By Mary O’KEEFE

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 5, 2021 approved changes to the LA County COVID-19 Rent Relief program to allow more flexibility in assisting renters through Dec. 31, 2021 who already applied for and qualified for the LA County COVID-19 Rent Relief Program.

Income eligible households who need financial assistance for unpaid rent and utilities will be able to apply for help through the CA COVID-19 Rent Relief Program, which is being administered by the California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency.

At a recent virtual town hall meeting with State Senator Anthony Portantino and Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, fifth district, discussion was held regarding housing information and how it applied to renters and landlords.

“Over the last several months the County has been working diligently to distribute over $110 million in emergency rental relief funds,” Barger said.

Part of that funding came from the federal CARES Act and Senate Bill 91, which extended the existing prohibition of evictions of residential tenants who are economically affected by COVID-19 but who have paid at least 25% of their rent.

“Federal and state funding has helped to keep people housed who have been impacted by [COVID-19],” she added.

Barger said that while it is important to help renters the County cannot overlook the “mom and pop” landlords who are similarly struggling.

The website housing.ca.gov has information for renters and landlords on how to get financial help. An application will need to be filled out.

“We will never ask about citizenship or ask [anyone] to show evidence of citizenship,” said panel participant Linda Jenkins, acting director, Community and Economic Development Division, LA County Development Authority.

There is also a list of LA County partners, including Family Promise of the Verdugos, that can help applicants with the form.

Panel participant Dana Pratt, deputy director of Housing and Tenant Protections with LA County, spoke of the new LA County Mortgage Relief Program. At the time of the town hall meeting she described the program as “coming soon;” however, the County has released information that states the program is a partnership with Neighborhood Housing Services of LA County and a local HUD-approved housing counseling agency.

The $5.5 program was developed by the LA County Board of Supervisors and will support property owners who have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the County, the Mortgage Relief Program will include a relief fund that provides grants of up to $20,000 for qualified property owners, plus expanded foreclosure prevention counseling services. The program will help single-family homeowners and property owners with four or fewer units living in communities highly impacted by COVID-19. This includes low- and moderate-income communities and people who have suffered a higher percentage of significant health impacts during the ongoing pandemic. Properties must be occupied.

The Mortgage Relief Program will launch on April 12, and property owners can apply for the program by calling (888) 895-2647 or visiting nhslacounty.org/mortgagereliefprogram. Other ways the County can help property owners can be found at dcba.lacounty.gov/foreclosure-prevention.