$7 million available for COVID-19 rent and utility assistance
Hoping to support those facing housing instability or the prospect of homelessness due to the coronavirus pandemic, Fremont is making roughly $7 million in federal relief funds available to help people struggling to pay their rent and utilities.
Starting Thursday, people from lower-income households in Fremont who are unable to pay their rent and utilities from as far back as March 13, 2020, “due to a COVID 19-related job loss or loss of income,” can apply to receive assistance, the city said in a statement.
The new program is called Keep Fremont Housed, and those who want to apply can do so online at the program website, fremont.gov/keepfremonthoused, or by phone, by calling the Fremont Family Resource Center at 510-574-2028.
Assistance is available for those who meet all the following criteria: People in households that earn up to or less than 80 percent of the Area Median Income, which is currently $83,550 annually for two people; one or more of the people in the household “has qualified for unemployment benefits or experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs, or experienced other financial hardship due, directly or indirectly” to the pandemic; and one or more of the people in the household “can demonstrate a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability.”
Higher priority will be given to applicants who have a household income at 50 percent of the area median income or lower, which is currently $52,200 annually for a household of two people, the city said.
Those who have been unemployed for 90 days or more prior to application, people who are “rent burdened,” who use more than half of their household income to pay rent, and those living in affordable housing units, will all also receive higher priority, the city said.
Landlords cannot apply on behalf of their tenants, but can encourage their tenants to apply, the city said.
The funding comes from the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s $25 billion Emergency Rental Assistance program, the city said.
For more information on the program, including application details in multiple languages, visit the city website at fremont.gov/keepfremonthoused, or call 510-574-2028.