For Immediate Release:
November 18, 2020
Contact:
Centro Legal de la Raza
Jesus Chavez
559-213-6841 (Media Inquiries only)
jchavez@centrolegal.org (Media Inquiries only)
The County of Alameda Offers Emergency Rental Assistance Program for Qualifying Tenants Financially Impacted by COVID-19
Oakland, CA – Centro Legal de la Raza today announced a new rental assistance program that will help provide relief to qualified tenants in unincorporated Alameda County who are financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, as unanimously approved by the Board of Supervisors.
“Ensuring that our most vulnerable residents in the Unincorporated Area have the resources necessary to remain housed and financially stable during the pandemic is one of our highest priorities,” said Alameda County Supervisor Wilma Chan. “I want to thank Centro Legal de la Raza for administering this critical program on behalf of those who have lost wages or services as a result of COVID-19.”
“Many renters and landlords have been impacted by income loss and housing insecurity as the result of COVID-19,” said Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley. “These critical grants are both a preventative measure against rising homelessness and debt and a necessary humanitarian effort that allows folks to remain in their homes. This is an important part of the county’s investment in the unincorporated communities in response to the coronavirus pandemic.”
The Alameda County Housing Secure COVID-19 Rental Assistance Program will provide rental assistance payments for up to nine months on behalf of qualifying unincorporated Alameda County residents (Ashland, Castro Valley, Cherryland, Fairmont, Fairview, Hayward Acres, San Lorenzo, & Sunol) who have lost income due to COVID-19 and meet federal low-income requirements. The monthly assistance payments will be provided directly to landlords or property owners on behalf of qualifying residents and will be applicable to rent due after March 1, 2020.
Qualified applicants are required to submit documentation confirming proof of tenancy and financial hardship resulting from Covid-19, including but not limited to one of the following: loss of or reduction in employment or wages, increased medical or childcare costs, or loss of childcare. All documentation and rental and lease agreements are subject to verification.
The program is being funded by $5,000,000 in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) funds.
The program is being administered by Centro Legal de la Raza, a non-profit legal services provider. Additional information on the rental assistance program will be made available starting Tuesday, November 17, 2020, on Centro Legal de la Raza’s website at: https://www.centrolegal.org/rental-assistance/. All program details, including eligibility requirements, application materials and submittal deadlines will be available on the website starting Tuesday, November 17, 2020.
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