Los Angeles tenants can now apply for assistance of up to $ 10,000 to pay rent

The local government estimates that some 64, 000 families will benefit from the second plan to pay debts they have regarding the rent

Photo: VALERIE MACON / AFP / Getty Images

This Tuesday opens the deadline to request up to $ 10, 000 rent assistance dollars in Los Angeles . The city government has launched its second round of the Emergency Rental Assistance program for COVID- 19 with a total amount of $ 259 million dollars.

The Municipal Council unanimously approved this plan on March 2 that uses funds from the federal governments. and state to help some 64, 000 families that have debts in the payment of rent . Of the total amount, $ 235 million dollars are earmarked for direct rental assistance and $ 3 million for eviction defense.

“The great thing about this (program) is that it goes to reversed, it is from April 1 of last year to 31 March of this year, so it’s not just about paying a month or two of rent ahead. It is about eliminate that debt . Today, families are wondering whether or not they will be able to pay their rent, not just this month’s rent, ”said Mayor Eric Garcetti during the program announcement on 20 of March.

During the first round, last summer, $ 103 millions of dollars, less than half of the amount now contemplated. And benefited 49, families, 15, 000 less than those that could do with this new plan. The second round will will focus on late payments , with a maximum grant of $ 10, 000 Dollars.

“No one should lose their home to a pandemic … No one should be forced to wonder what it would be like to join the number of homeless Angelenos,” added Mayor Garcetti a week ago.

Local authorities calculate that “one year after the pandemic, 90, 000 Californians are still behind in the payment of rent “. “Families in our city owe $ 4, 000 dollars and $ 7, 000 dollars for rent ”, according to the president of the City Council, Nury Martínez.

There are two options to request the program:

1. Cooperation between tenant and landlord , which would reimburse the latter on 80% of the rent not paid between April 1, 2020 and the 31 March 2021. The owner must renounce the 20% remaining.

2. If the owner refuses to participate, the tenant will receive the 25% of unpaid rent between April 1, 2020 and the 31 March 2021. In addition, you will have help to pay the 30% of the rent for the next three months (until June of 2021).