CITY PROGRAM HELPS WITH PAST-DUE RENT
Workers in sectors hit hard by COVID-19 encouraged to apply
About this time last year, hotel workers, hair stylists, waiters and hundreds more lost their jobs when businesses closed during the coronavirus pandemic.
Now as businesses reopen and people slowly return to work, many are struggling to catch up with past-due rent and utility bills.
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, Councilman Raul Campillo and several other officials held a news conference Monday to encourage residents to apply for an $83 million rental relief program that launched last week.
The City of San Diego COVID-19 Housing Stability Assistance Program can pay up to 80 percent of past-due rent and utility bills for families with household incomes at or below 80 percent of the San Diego-area median income — which is about $92,400 a year for a family of four or $64,700 for an individual.
To qualify, renters must show that at least one member of the household lost
wages due to COVID-19. The program will pay 80 percent of unpaid rent from April 1, 2020, through March 31, 2021 — if the landlord agrees to waive the remaining 20 percent.
If the landlord declines, the program pays 25 percent of the past-due rent.
Officials said the program will prioritize households making an annual income at or below 50 percent of the area median income — $57,750 a year for a family of four or $40,450 a year for an individual. Also, people who have been unemployed for more than 90 days will have priority.
People can apply online at sdhc.org, or if they don’t have access to the Internet or need assistance, they can call (619) 535-6921.
About 10,252 applications have been received, including 4,815 completed since March 15, said Richard C. Gentry, CEO of the San Diego Housing Commission. Most applicants earned less than the 50 percent median income threshold, he said.
“I think it shows the extent of the need and extent of the willingness of the city to utilize these much-needed federal funds to help needy families here in San Diego,” Gentry said. “Many workers are struggling with the uncertainty of past-due rent and utilities that have built up over the past year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.” The program is funded by a federal award from the U.S. Department of Treasury.
Gloria said the city is seeking more funding for the program.
“Over 10,000 San Diego families trying to access these dollars in just the first week. We know that there is a need for more,” Gloria said.
Only residents of the city of San Diego are eligible. Families who already receive rental assistance, such as Section 8, are not eligible.
Brigette Browning, president of hospitality workers’ union Unite Here Local 30, said hundreds of hospitality workers are still unemployed and continue to turn to food and rental assistance to survive.
“The COVID-19 Housing Stability Assistance Program truly is a lifeline for workers, my members, and an important step in providing some stability while they begin to navigate their economic recovery,” Browning said.
Councilman Campillo said there is a concentrated effort to contact hard-toreach communities hit hard by the pandemic. Applications and instructional videos are in several languages.
The city has partnered with 16 local community organizations to provide language assistance in Spanish, Somali, Arabic, Vietnamese, Swahili, Tagalog and more.