Emergency Renters Assistance Subsidy Program

Time 2020-11-08 16:05:14

Web Name: Emergency Renters Assistance Subsidy Program

WebSite: http://hcidla.lacity.org

ID:109149

Keywords:

Renters,Emergency,Assistance,

Description:

Background To assist LA’s tenants and landlords affected by the current COVID-19 health pandemic, and prevent displacement of renters, the citywide Emergency Rental Assistance Subsidy Program was created by LA City Council President Nury Martinez, the City Council and HCIDLA, with the support of Mayor Eric Garcetti. The program will provide a temporary rent subsidy for tenants in the City of Los Angeles who are unable to pay rent due to circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The program allocates $103,000,000 to provide a rent subsidy to Los Angeles City renters impacted by the COVID-19 health pandemic and is anticipated to assist 50,000 Los Angeles households. The Los Angeles Housing + Community Investment Department (HCIDLA) is charged with the implementation of the Emergency Rental Assistance Subsidy Program (ERAS). Information and Eligibility The Los Angeles City Emergency Renters Assistance Subsidy Program will provide a temporary rent subsidy for eligible residential tenants in the City of Los Angeles who are unable to pay rent due to circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The subsidy will provide a grant of up to $1,000 per month to cover the monthly lease rent (based on the rent paid as of March 1, 2020), with a maximum of $2,000 per household. The rent subsidy will be paid directly to the tenant’s landlord on the tenant’s behalf. This program will be available to renters of multifamily rental housing who meet the following eligibility criteria: Residents of the City of Los Angeles, regardless of immigration status. To verify if you live in the City of Los Angeles, go to: neighborhoodinfo.lacity.org; Households that can provide proof of tenancy; Household annual income at or below 80% of Area Median Income (AMI) level prior to the COVID-19 crisis; and 2019 HUD Low-Income Limits for Los Angeles (Formerly known as 80% of AMI) A tenant whose income is 80 percent or less of the Area Median Income, as adjusted for household size, as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. (Effective April 24, 2019) Households that can provide documentation of loss or reduction of income due to COVID-19 after March 13, 2020. Check your application status here: STATUS LOOKUP To check your application status over the phone, call 1-844-944-1868; 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. TTY line (for hearing or speach impaired): 1-844-325-1398 Tenants FAQs I am a tenant and I received a text message indicating I was randomly selected. However, I did not receive any emails about how to provide documents or make an in-person appointment. How can I complete my application for approval? Emails were sent to the email address you provided on your application when you applied for the rent subsidy. Please check your spam folder for the email that contains your username and password. Both the username and password are case sensitive. You must log in using a computer, not a smartphone, and cut and paste the username and password into the login screen to avoid typing it incorrectly. This is important, please remember to CUT AND PASTE your password. You will then be prompted to create your own unique password. If you cannot locate the email, please email us at hcidla.eras@lacity.org, provide your address and phone number to assist us in locating your application. If you know your username, you can also reset the password by clicking on FORGOT PASSWORD.Click here for instructions. I am eligible to receive the rent subsidy under the program and I created my unique password but I have forgotten to write it down, how can I reset my password? On the login screen, please click FORGOT MY PASSWORD. Click here for instructions. Can the rent subsidy of $2,000 be towards one month’s rent since my monthly rent is $2,000? No. A maximum of $1,000 can be applied towards one month's rent, and the remaining $1,000 to be applied to the following month for a total payment of $2,000. How do I know if my landlord was notified of my eligibility to receive the $2,000 rent subsidy and when should my landlord receive the rent subsidy on my behalf? To find out the status of your application, please click here. If the status is PENDING INITIAL OR FINAL LANDLORD ELIGIBILITY DOCUMENTS, this means we are waiting for your landlord to submit documents to participate in the program. The issuance of the rent subsidy depends on when your landlord provides the required documents. Note, we are processing 50,000 subsidies which can take several weeks. You will be notified when your landlord is paid. I submitted my documents two days ago and it is still under the status Tenant Eligibility Documents Under Review; when can I expect my documents to be reviewed? We have thousands of applications to review. Wwe appreciate your patience during this time. We expect eligibility documents to be reviewed within approximately one month after they have been uploaded into our system. The status of my application indicates “Pending Initial Landlords Eligibility Documents.” However, my landlord indicates they did not receive an email or phone call. This status means we have either emailed or called your landlord regarding your eligibility to receive the $2,000 rent subsidy. If you provided your landlord’s email on the application, that is where we sent the email. You should inform your landlord to check their spam folder. I looked up my application status and it indicates “Wait List” what does this mean? Wait list means your application was not randomly selected and is placed on hold if more applications are needed. If your application is later selected, you will be informed by email or phone. What are the circumstances of the inability to pay rent due to COVID-19? Loss of income due to workplace closure or reduced hours. Loss of income or increased child care costs because daycare or schools are closed. Medical costs for you or a household member who is ill with COVID-19. Loss of income due to government-ordered emergency measures after March 13, 2020. If your total gross household income, including income of all adults, 18 years of age or older, living in the home, is at or below the dollar amount for the household size listed in the chart below, you may qualify: 2019 HUD Low-Income Limits for Los Angeles (Formerly known as 80% of AMI) A tenant whose income is 80 percent or less of the Area Median Income, as adjusted for household size, as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. (Effective April 24, 2019) How will the applicants be selected to receive the rent subsidy and where do I submit documents? Once the application period ends, eligible applications will be randomly selected. If an applicant is selected, they will be notified by email or phone and asked to submit documentation to prove their eligibility. How do I know if my application was submitted successfully and how do I check the status of my application? Due to the high volume of traffic, some applicants received an application confirmation number and others did not receive an application number; however, all applicants will be able to look up the status of their application online. Applicants can use their application confirmation number to check their status. Or if you did not receive a confirmation number, you can check your application status by checking a combination of your email address & zip code or phone number & zip code. Applicants can enter their application confirmation number at hcidla.lacity.org to check on the status of their application. If my application is not randomly selected, will I have an opportunity to apply again? If your application was eligible but not selected, you will receive an email indicating that you are now on a waiting list. Your application will continue to be on file and may be selected if more funds become available. What is a multifamily rental? If I rent a single-family home will I be eligible for the rent subsidy? If there are more than two homes on a single parcel, the property is considered multifamily and eligible for the program. However, if there is only ONE home on the property, that property is not eligible. If I receive a federal rent subsidy such as a Section 8 housing choice voucher, Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) or live in project-based Section 8 or public housing, will I be eligible for the rent subsidy from the LA Emergency Renters Assistance Program? Unfortunately, renters who receive Section 8 housing choice voucher, Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) or live in project-based Section 8 or public housing are not eligible to participate in the program. Who is the rent subsidy paid to? The rent subsidy is paid directly to the landlord. The rent subsidy will not be paid to the landlord unless the tenant has been qualified by providing documentation to prove eligibility and the landlord also agrees to participate in the program. Does my landlord have to do anything to receive the rent subsidy? In order for a landlord to receive the rent subsidy the landlord will be required to comply with federal, state, and local governing law including: Not to charge any interest or late fees for rents owed. Not to impose a rent increase during the repayment period, which covers one year after the end of the Emergency Declaration. Provide ID, a completed W-9 form and signed Landlord Agreement. Provide timely information for processing the payment. What kind of information will I need to provide to confirm my eligibility to receive the rent subsidy under the Emergency Renters Assistance Program? A tenant will be required to provide: Proof that they are a resident in the City of Los Angeles, such as an identification card, etc. Proof of tenancy, such as a rental agreement/lease, or a notice issued by your current landlord, etc. Proof of household income, such as a tax return, 1099 or employer contact information, etc. Documentation of loss or reduced income after March 13, 2020, due to COVID-19, such as layoff letter, etc. If a tenant is selected to receive the rent subsidy, can a tenant receive reimbursement for rent already paid to the landlord? No, there is no reimbursement or backpay. The subsidy is intended for rent-burdened tenants and will apply to current or future rent payments. I have multiple adults living in my household. Should each of us submit an application? No, only one application per rental unit should be submitted. Multiple application submissions may deem an application not eligible. Your total household income, including income of all adults, 18 years of age or older, living in the home, will be used to determine your eligibility for the program. Prior to COVID-19, my household income was above the income guidelines (80% AMI) but since the pandemic began I am now experiencing financial hardship. Will I still be eligible for the rent subsidy? No, you are not eligible for the rent subsidy. This program is designed to provide relief to tenants who were low-to-moderate income prior to COVID-19 and financially impacted by COVID-19. Do you have to be a U.S. citizen to apply? The program is open to all renters, regardless of immigration status. We will not ask for immigration status, nor is it considered in determining eligibility. Are the 2019 80% AMI guidelines for total income before or after tax? Household income is total household income earned, so the household’s income must be at or below this amount before taxes, depending on the number of people in the household. Will landlords be taxed for receiving the rental subsidy? Yes, just as they are taxed for their regular rental income. Landlords will be required to submit a IRS-1099 form. Can I apply if my name is not on the lease or rental contract? I have always lived in the rental unit and recently divorced, however, my landlord has refused to update the lease agreement. Applicants need to provide some documentation that they live in the rental unit and pay rent. It does not need to be the lease/rental agreement. It could be a notice from the landlord or a utility bill or some other document that connects them to that address. Can renters living in single family rental properties apply? The recommendations for the ERAS program approved by the City Council are for a program targeting funds for multi-family rentals. All the programs administered by HCID are for multi-family rentals, which are properties with 2 or more units on a lot. HCID is able to verify multi-family properties through our SCEP database, which registers all legal multi-family rental units. The program is open to approximately 880,000 rental units with two or more units on a lot. Lastly, unfortunately, there are not sufficient funds and capacity to assist every type of renter. As a renter, do I need to be behind in rent to be eligible for the program? No, a renter does not need to be behind in rent but does need to have a reduction in reduced income related to COVID-19 and meet household income eligibility requirements. Does this relief program apply to subtenants? I work in the restaurant industry and my position was eliminated in March unrelated to COVID-19, will I still be eligible? A subtenant is eligible to apply for the program. However, the subtenant, like all applicants, must have income at or below 80% of AMI and must have a reduction or loss of employment due to COVID-19 since March 13, 2020. I live with unrelated roommates and we split the rent and utilities. I lost my job due to COVID-19 however, my roommates are still employed and paying their portion of rent but I am no longer able to afford my portion. Do I still qualify for the program although my roommates combined incomes exceed the 80% of the AMI household income requirements? Household income is based on the total income of all members (related & unrelated) living in the same rental unit, so the total household income of all the roommates must be at or below 80% of AMI prior to March 13, 2020. If one of the roommates has a significant loss or reduction in income, they may apply. I have a government-issued photo ID, but it reflects my previous address, not my current one in Los Angeles. I have all other proof that I am a renter in LA. Will this be an issue as I apply for the Emergency Renters Assistance Subsidy Program? Your government-issued photo ID with a different address will still be needed to confirm your identity. You will be able to provide a different document to prove your tenancy such as a notice addressed in your name from your current landlord, utility bill in your name with your rental unit address dated between March to August 2020. I submitted the application more than once. Will both applications be disqualified? No. Only the first application will be removed and the other application will remain in order to be considered for the random selection. I rent a condominium, will I be eligible to apply? Condominiums located in the City of Los Angeles are eligible for the program. I do not owe rent, but I will not be able to pay this coming month. Can I still apply if I do not owe rent yet? Yes, you can still apply. Enter the total number of months you need assistance paying. The subsidy will provide a grant of up to $1,000 per month to cover the monthly lease rent (based on the rent paid as of March 1, 2020), with a maximum of $2,000 per household. I am in the process of moving to a new unit. Do I still qualify for the rent subsidy? If selected, the payment will be made to the landlord listed in the application. The subsidy cannot be transferred to a different landlord. Can I enter the property manager’s contact information because I do not have the owner’s information? Yes, we need your landlord’s information, the property owner,or Management Company you pay your rent. This way if you are selected for the program we know the person in charge to contact and pay the rent subsidy on your behalf. If I do not have proof of income such as tax returns or pay stubs, how can I prove my income level? If a tenant does not have tax returns or paystubs they can provide an Employer statement with contact information such as name, address, phone, date of employment & income earned. If I am chosen to receive the rent subsidy, am I obligated to pay it back? A tenant is not required to pay back the subsidy, it is a grant. The rent subsidy will be paid directly to the landlord on the tenant’s behalf. No, the tenant must qualify for the program based on their household composition and income. However, we will share information about the program with landlord organizations, and landlords are encouraged to refer their tenants to apply. Can I apply the rent subsidy payment for unpaid rent or current rent owed? Landlords will be notified when their tenants are approved for the program, as well as the specific months of rents that will be subsidized. Will the rent subsidy also cover late fees or other fees? No, a landlord must agree to waive any late fees, interest or other fees. Landlords should also be aware of the COVID-19 emergency renter protections that prohibit charging interest or late fees on unpaid rent due to COVID-19. Learn more here: hcidla.lacity.org/covid-19/renter-protections. Will my tenant receive the rent subsidy? No, the rent subsidy payment will be paid directly to the landlord by direct deposit. Will I receive a 1099? Yes, IRS rules will require a 1099 to be issued for rent subsidy payments. What are the terms of the program that landlords must agree to? A landlord must agree to comply with federal, state, and local governing law including: Not to charge any interest or late fees for rents owed. Not to impose a rent increase during the repayment period, which covers one year after the end of the Emergency Declaration. Provide ID, a completed W-9 form and signed Landlord Agreement. Provide timely information for processing the payment. Will I receive one payment or monthly payments? The landlord will receive one payment of $2,000 maximum. I received an email from the Housing Rights Center (HRC) asking for my Direct Deposit Information. Is this correct/legitimate? Yes, the Housing Rights Center (HRC) is the City’s contracted vendor processing the payments to Landlords. A direct deposit is the quickest way to obtain the payment. However, if you prefer, a paper check will be issued. How will the payment be sent? Once the documents are reviewed, you will receive further instructions. Please be sure you have provided an email where we can contact you and continue checking your email including your spam folder and/or your phone for further instructions. I am a landlord and I received a text message indicating my tenant is eligible for the program. However, I did not receive any emails about how to provide documents or make an in-person appointment? Emails were sent to the email address your tenant provided when they applied for the rent subsidy. Please check your spam folder for the email that contains your username and password. Both the username and password are case sensitive. You must log in using a computer, not a smartphone, and cut and paste the username and password into the login screen to avoid typing them incorrectly. You will then be prompted to create your own unique password. If you cannot locate the email, please email us at hcidla.eras@lacity.org, provide your phone number and tenant’s rental unit address to assist us in locating your application. If you know your username, you can also reset the password by clicking on FORGOT PASSWORD. Click here for instructions. I received an email with new login information. However, the username is not my email address, can I still use this username? The username may not be your current email but our records do have your correct email on file. You must use the original login username that was created since it is linked to your tenant’s application. I have multiple tenants who qualified for the assistance and I received some payments from the City. How can I tell which units the payments are for? You can check the status of the specific application number online here and it will tell you which of your tenants have been paid out. Also, we expect to send emails to all landlords and tenants that have been paid soon. Disclaimer Please be aware of scammers. City employees will not ask you for personal information, such as your Social Security Number, over the telephone related to this Initiative. Please use a secure means to transmit personal contact information to the City for this Initiative. Any personal information provided to the department may be considered public records subject to public disclosure by requesting parties, pursuant to the California Public Records Act, though certain confidential information may be redacted prior to disclosure to requesting parties. The City of Los Angeles is not responsible for any damages that may arise from the use of, the inability to use, or misuse of the web site and/or materials contained on the web site, or that result from mistakes, omissions, interruptions, deletion of files, errors, defects, delays in operation, or transmission, or any failure of performance. City Of Los Angeles Emergency Renters Assistance Fund Your donation will help low-wage workers who are facing extreme economic hardship due to COVID-19. Donations to this fund will assist renters in the City of Los Angeles to be able to stay in their homes. CLICK HERE TO DONATE COVID-19 To assist residential renters who have been economically impacted by the Coronavirus, the Mayor and the City Council have adopted tenant protections on evictions and rent increases in the City of Los Angeles. COVID-19 Resources COVID-19 Renter Protection

TAGS:Renters Emergency Assistance 

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