GET HELP! Congress has appropriated billions of dollars to assist families struggling to pay their rent or mortgage. Programs that distribute these funds are ran by your local government. Please visit their website to apply.
Families struggling to pay their rent, mortgage, and utility bills can now apply for assistance. Right now, there are three separate programs at the local, county, and state level of government.
Each program has its own eligibility standards, and receiving funds from one will likely disqualify you from receiving assistance from other programs. If you have questions or need help, contact our office for assistance.
Local City Programs
Anaheim and Santa Ana operate dedicated assistance programs for their residents. You can apply for those programs at the links below. Residents may also apply for the County and State programs.
Orange County Rental Assistance Program
What is offered:
The County of Orange will launch an Emergency Rental Assistance program on February 1, 2021 and will accept applications for a period of one month from eligible renter households with unpaid rent or utilities bills due to the impact of COVID-19.
It is important to note that the cities of Anaheim and Santa Ana received direct allocations from the U.S. Department of the Treasury as they have populations that exceed 200,000 residents. Scroll down or click on these links to learn more about Anaheim and Santa Anaprograms.
Eligibility standards:
Rental households’ combined income must be at or below 80% area median income (AMI). Visit https://era.211oc.org/ to find the 80% AMI level for your household size.
Documents required:
- Photo ID
- Copy of a lease agreement
- Proof of income affected by COVID-19, such as an unemployment letter or letter from an employer that details your reduced hours or pay
- Proof of unpaid rent or utilities such as documentation from a landlord or utility company stating the amount owed and that it is overdue
How to apply:
Orange County landlords are able to apply on behalf of their tenants, as long as the tenant co-signs the application. To find more information or to get ready to apply, call 2-1-1 to receive assistance in multiple languages or visit era.211oc.org.
Other resources: https://www.ochealthinfo.com/occ/emergency_rental_assistance_program
California Rental & Mortgage Assistance Program
What is offered:
The State’s Rental Assistant Program is now available. Check below to learn more.
The State of California's Tenant, Homeowner and Small Landlord Relief and Stabilization Act protects you from eviction if you are unable to pay some or all of your rent due to coronavirus or the quarantine between September 1, 2020, and June 30, 2021. The Act requires that you pay at least 25 percent of your rent for this period. You can do that monthly or in one lump sum by June 30, 2021.
What you should do if you unable to pay rent:
- Let your landlord know in writing within seven days of the rent due date.
- Save documentation as proof.
- Pay as much of your rent as you can.
Who is eligible:
While not everyone will qualify for this assistance, you can apply for it regardless of your citizenship or immigration status. There is no charge to apply for or receive this assistance.
Where do I go for more information:
Additional information about the extension of the COVID-19 Tenant Relief Act and new state or local rental assistance programs, including more information about how to qualify for assistance, can be found by visiting http://housingiskey.com.
If your landlord is attempting to evict you and you took all the above steps, contact a local legal aid provider and learn about your protections.
Other State of California tenant resources:
https://covid19.ca.gov/housing-and-homelessness/#homeowners-small-landlords
https://landlordtenant.dre.ca.gov/tenant/resources.html
California Resources for Homeowners and Small Landlords
What is offered:
Foreclosure protection is available for homeowners and small landlords who have federally-backed mortgages through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. This includes landlords with four or fewer properties (whether or not they are owner-occupied).
Homeowners or small landlords who don’t have federally-backed loans can contact their loan servicers to request forbearance. Your lender must provide detailed reasons if they deny your forbearance request. You can contest a denial.
These financial institutions may be able to reduce or delay your monthly payment. In addition, they will:
- Give you a streamlined process to request forbearance for coronavirus-related reasons, supported with available documentation
- Confirm approval of and terms of the forbearance program
- Provide the opportunity to extend your forbearance agreement if you continue to experience hardship due to coronavirus
Learn more about other mortgage protections and resources (PDF)