Most Ventura County residents are currently protected from evictions due to non-payment of rent caused by the financial impacts of the coronavirus. But renters will still need to pay their back-owed rent eventually, and for some, that amount is starting to add up.
Ventura County's Pandemic Rental Assistance program aims to help reduce the amount of tenants' back-owed rent, while assisting landlords.
"This rental assistance program is two-fold: It is to help eligible renters receive up to two months of rent paid off while landlords can also receive income for their property, because the landlords are having a hard time too," said Marleen Canniff, communications manager for the county's Human Services Agency.
Ventura County residents must make less than 80 percent of the area median income to be eligible, with priority given to those with an annual household income that is less than 50 percent of the area median income. These income limits vary by household size. For example, 80 percent of the area median income for a family of four is $90,350, but for a one-person household it is $63,250.
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"We're really hoping to provide relief for Ventura County residents who are facing hardships in this pandemic," said Canniff.
The program utilizes federal funding from the Coronavirus Relief Fund, established by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The first round of funding, which is open for applications from June 17 until July 1, totals $5 million. Another $5 million is planned for a second round of funding, which the Board of Supervisors will provide direction on after the first round of funding is complete.
The grants will cover up to two months of owed rent, with the amount based on unit size. Studio and one-bedroom apartments will receive $1,500 per month, while two-bedroom apartments or larger will receive $2,500 per month. In Camarillo, median rent for a one-bedroom is $1,829 and median rent for a two-bedroom is $2,431, according to data from Apartment List.
The money isn't intended to cover the full amount of rent owed, but to reduce the overall amount owed while serving as "bridge funding" while other funding opportunities are considered at the state and federal level.
Who is eligible?
To be eligible, applicants must be Ventura County residents who meet the income requirements and can demonstrate that their income was impacted by COVID-19. This includes loss of employment, reduced work hours and an inability to work due to child care.
Landlords are also involved in the process. After a tenant completes the online application, their landlord must upload the rental or lease agreement and attest that the applicant owes rent. If the application is approved, a paper check will be mailed directly to the landlord.
While Canniff said the fund is large enough to assist thousands of families, the county is expecting high demand.
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If there are more eligible applicants than the funding can support, a lottery system will be used to select applicants. The application is not first-come, first-served, meaning any eligible applicants who apply before July 1 have an equal chance of securing funding.
"We're anticipating a large response, and the lottery system would make the application more accessible, equitable and inclusive because there are some people who might have a harder time finding the time to apply or even hearing about the funding," said Canniff.
In June, 30 percent of Americans missed their housing payments, and 31 percent missed their housing payments in May, according to a survey by Apartment List. Missed housing payments, which include rent and mortgages, were more common among low-income Americans.
Nearly 60 percent of Ventura County renters were "cost-burdened" by rent before the pandemic, meaning they pay more than 30 percent of their income on rent. And these high housing costs are likely exacerbated for the over 57,000 Ventura County residents who filed for unemployment in April.
Processing and approving applications for pandemic rental assistance will take up to five weeks. Applications open at noon on June 17 and close on July 1. Online applications are available at vcemergency.com/rent.
Erin Rode covers housing, real estate and development for The Star. Reach her at erin.rode@vcstar.com or 805-437-0312.
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June 17, 2020 at 06:07AM
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Applications open June 17 for Ventura County's $10 million pandemic rental assistance - VC Star
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