Orange background with red text reads Affordable Housing Month East Bay Housing Organizations. Four clip art images of people protesting is in the bottom right corner.

Thank You for Attending EBHO's Rent Relief Informational Webinar

Thank you to those who joined EBHO's Rent Relief Informational Webinar; if you missed it, the recording and relevant information is included in this email. Below you will find links to the event recording, the slides used in the webinar (PDF), and the links Alex mentioned in the webinar. You will also find our social media information; I hope you'll follow us so we can stay connected.

Image of video screenshot- text on a white screen explaining a rent relief webinar schedule with a tiny icon in the corner of a person talking.

Alex Werth, our Policy Manager, is currently writing responses to the questions asked during the webinar that we did not have time to respond to. We will send that information out later this week to everyone who RSVPed for this event and post it on our website. In the meantime, below are the links mentioned in the presentation, links to legal aid, and a summary of programs. 

Declaration of Financial Hardship

Download the form - Declaration of financial hardship due to COVID-19: https://housing.ca.gov/covid_rr/covid19_financial_distress_form.pdf

 

Eviction Protection Policy by city and county: (COVID19 Eviction protections are still in place.)

More details on eviction protections: http://ebho.org/our-work/covid19-housing-policy/

 

Link and phone numbers to apply based on county, city, and your income (for Oakland):

How to apply for ERAP in Contra Costa: visit housing.ca.gov/covid_rr/ or call 833-430-2122

How to apply for ERAP in Alameda County (except Oakland and Fremont): visit www.ac-housingsecure.org or call 211

How to apply for ERAP in Oakland (0-50% AMI): visit koh.bayareacs.org or call 510-899-9289, 510-860-4985, or 510-452-4541 

If you are a renter in Oakland with questions, you can contact the Rent Adjustment Program at this link: https://www.oaklandca.gov/topics/rent-adjustment-program or call the Rent Adjustment Program Housing Counselors from Monday to Thursday, 9:30am to 4:30pm. Phone: (510) 238-3721

How to apply for ERAP in Oakland (50-80% AMI): visit housing.ca.gov/covid_rr/ or call 833-430-2122

How to apply for ERAP in Fremont: visit keepfremonthoused.bayareacs.org or call 510-574-2028

 

Legal Assistance:

Centro Legal de la Raza (510) 437-1554 - www.centrolegal.org

East Bay Community Law Center (510) 548-4040 - www.ebclc.org

Bay Area Legal Aid www.baylegal.org

Bay Area Legal Aid - Contra Costa Office:  (510) 233-9954  | Alameda County Office: (510) 663-4744

Bay Area Legal Aid: Legal Advice Line: (800) 551-5554 |Tenants Rights Line (Alameda County):  (888) 382-3405

 

The information below is a brief summary and includes THE SAME LINKS AND NUMBERS as ERAP programs above. 

How To Apply For Rental Assistance:

Oakland - Apply Online or Call 510-899-9289, 510-860-4985, or 510-452-4541.

Oakland will prioritize relief for renters who make less than 30% of AMI (Area Median Income) and/or are at heightened risk of homelessness. It will also target communities with high rates of COVID-19 infection and households with children, seniors, or people with disabilities. Unlike the State program, which will pay 80% of back rent accrued since April 1st, 2020, Oakland will pay 100% of back rent for the renters that are most vulnerable to severe housing insecurity (up to $15,000). The City will also pay 100% of the back rent owed by eligible tenants who live in affordable housing or units owned by small landlords (1-5 units). If there’s money remaining, the City may be able to pay a portion of future rent on behalf of the tenant.

Renters who make less than 80% of AMI, but aren’t covered by the Oakland program, can apply to the State program. The State will prioritize renters who make less than 50% of AMI or live in areas hit hard by COVID-19. The State will pay 80% of back rent accrued since April 1st, 2020. In exchange, the landlord must forgive the remaining 20%. If a landlord refuses to participate, then the State will pay 25% of back rent to the tenant so that they can pay the landlord directly and qualify for long-term eviction protections. If there’s money remaining, the State may be able to pay a portion of future rent on behalf of the tenant.

If you are a renter in Oakland with questions about rent and this program, contact the Rent Adjustment Program at this link: https://www.oaklandca.gov/topics/rent-adjustment-program or call the Rent Adjustment Program Housing Counselors from Monday to Thursday, 9:30am to 4:30pm. Phone: (510) 238-3721

Click here for more information on housing assistance for low-income households in Oakland.

For owners of affordable housing, email housingassistance@oaklandca.gov ASAP to request a bulk application for your properties. For questions, email Maryann Leshin.

Fremont - Apply Online or Call 510-574-2028

Fremont will provide relief for renters who make less than 80% of Area Median Income (AMI), but will prioritize those who make less than 50% of AMI, pay over 50% of their income in rent, and/or have been unemployed for over 90 days at the time of application. It will also prioritize tenants who live in affordable housing. Initially, Fremont will pay 100% of back rent for the renters that are most vulnerable to serious housing insecurity. After that, the City will only be able to provide 80% of back rent, requiring landlords to forgive the remaining 20%. If there’s money remaining, the City may be able to pay a portion of future rent on behalf of the tenant.

For questions related to owners of affordable housing, email Aki Snelling.

Alameda County - Apply Online or Call 211

Renters who live in Alameda County, but don’t live in Oakland or Fremont, can apply for aid through the County’s program. Alameda County will prioritize relief for renters who make less than 30% of AMI and/or are at heightened risk of homelessness, including due to a history of incarceration. It will also target tenants who live in affordable housing or units owned by small, economically vulnerable landlords (1-5 units). Initially, Alameda County will pay 100% of back rent for the renters that are most vulnerable to serious housing insecurity. After that, the County will only be able to provide 80% of back rent, requiring landlords to forgive the remaining 20%. If there’s money remaining, the County may be able to pay a portion of future rent on behalf of the tenant.

For owners of affordable housing, visit this link ASAP to request a bulk application for your properties. For an overview and questions, see this presentation and email LaToya Tooles or Margaux Payton.

Contra Costa County - Apply Online or Call 833-430-2122

Contra Costa County will not run its own rental assistance program. Renters who make less than 80% of Area Median Income (AMI) can apply to the State program. The State will prioritize renters who make less than 50% of AMI or live in areas hit hard by COVID-19. The State will pay 80% of back rent accrued since April 1st, 2020. In exchange, the landlord must forgive the remaining 20%. If a landlord refuses to participate, then the State will pay 25% of back rent to the tenant so that they can pay the landlord directly and qualify for long-term eviction protections. If there’s money remaining, the State may be able to pay a portion of future rent on behalf of the tenant. While tenants who live in affordable housing are eligible for support, the State won’t prioritize relief for affordable housing communities.

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Remember, if you are facing an eviction notice or have other legal questions, the phone numbers for legal assistance are at the top of this email and can be found here.

Alex will write up responses to many of the questions that were asked that we did not have time to get to and we will send another email to everyone who RSVPed for this event and link to it on our website. 

 

If you have additional questions, please email alex@ebho.org. Don't forget to forward this email to anyone you know that might al

If you need immediate food or housing assistance see our COVID-19 Resource Page

Follow us on InstagramTwitter, Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn. We will share resources and calls to take action to ensure everyone who affordable housing in the East Bay can have a quality place to come home to.  

With Solidarity,

Grover Wehman-Brown, Communications Manager at East Bay Housing Organizations

 

Affordable Housing Month is right around the corner! See our list of events and join us: http://ebho.org/events/

 

Your donation to EBHO supports our ongoing work to win affordable homes rooted in just communities for low-income people in the East Bay. 

Contact Us

East Bay Housing Organizations
538 9th Street Suite 200
Oakland, California 94607
510-663-3830
staff@ebho.org

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