City to help fund rental assistance for residents

As many as 120 local households could benefit from the program

A series of actions by the city of Woodland should provide $ 422,831 for low- and verylow income residents.

A series of actions by the city of Woodland should provide $ 422,831 that will help Yolo County Housing provide rental assistance for low- and very- low income residents.

The City Council took action this past week to approve a series of amendments using Community Development Block Grant funds that will be directed to Yolo County Housing. A unanimous 5- 0 vote took place following a public hearing at which there were no comments.

The council session was held via Zoom due to the coronavirus pandemic with Dan Sokolow, senior planner for the city, explaining how the program worked to aid those unable to pay their rents.

Because Community Development Block Grant money comes from the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, there is no effect on the city’s general fund. Rather, the supplemental funds have been made available through the Coronavirus Act Relief and Economic Security Act to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus pandemic.

According to Sokolow, the city used its initial CARES Act grant money of $ 302,041 to buy commercial modular trailers that are now being used to provide a commercial kitchen, restrooms, showers and laundry services at the East Beamer Housing project which will serve around 100 homeless people.

Sokolow said the city was awarded a second funding allocation of $ 422,831 which could be reallocated to aid low- income renters. In accepting the money, the city decided to develop a “subrecipient agreement” with Yolo County Housing to administer the program.

Yolo Housing has been operating rental assistance programs for Davis and Yolo County with a number of Woodland residents having already participated in the county program.

A portion of the city’s allocation, $ 63,425 ( or approximately 15%), will cover Yolo Housing’s costs for administering the program.

“While actions have been taken at the state level and locally to shield renters from eviction during the COVID- 19 pandemic, a number of renters may be at risk of eviction once eviction moratoriums end and overdue rent is due,” Sokolow told the council in a report. “The purposes of the Rental Assistance Program are to support low- income residents who are at greatest risk of displacement due to non- payment of rent related to the COVID- 19 pandemic and to offset corresponding lost revenue that landlords need to provide housing services.

“The program will provide a one- time rent relief grant directly to landlords on behalf of low- income tenants to reduce the burden on tenants and ensure landlords receive the revenue needed to maintain housing services,” Sokolow added.

Based on maximum assistance of $ 3,000 per eligible household and factoring in the costs for the program administration, about 120 households could benefit from the rental assistance program.

Households assisted would exceed 120, as long as every single household aided didn’t need the maximum $ 3,000 in assistance.

An estimated 240 to 360 persons would benefit from the program based on 120 households receiving assistance. In addition, “a significant amount of the program funds would be used to pay landlords,” Sokolow added.

Eligibility for the program is limited to low- income Woodland household ( 60% of area median income or 80% of the area’s median income with a high rent burden, considered at 30% or more.

An eligible household must be unable to pay the full rent because the household has experienced and can demonstrate hardship resulting from COVID- 19 such as loss or reduction in employment or wages, increased medical or childcare costs, and loss of childcare.

The money can be used by renters for not just rental assistance but for utility costs, security deposits and in those cases where security deposits are needed, utility deposits.

“While actions have been taken at the state level and locally to shield renters from eviction during the COVID- 19 pandemic, a number of renters may be at risk of eviction once eviction moratoriums end and overdue rent is due.” — Dan Sokolow, senior planner for the city of Woodland