Dear Constituent,

As I've noted before, financial support is available NOW to renters who are having difficulty paying rent and to landlords who have tenants unable to pay rent. So far the program is undersubscribed, so if you qualify please apply.

NOTE: Renters must apply for state rental assistance by Sept. 30 in order to be protected under the statewide eviction moratorium, which expires on that date. Also note, the application process works best (and fastest) if both the tenant and landlord complete it cooperatively. So submit your application ASAP. Don't wait.

The $5.2 billion Housing Is Key program is designed to help renters and landlords by covering up to 100% of rent payments that may be owed for as far back as April 2020 — along with future rent payments, if needed. Depending on eligibility, the program can cover up to 100% of unpaid back rent — and up to three months of future rent. The program can also pay some or all unpaid utility bills.

In Alameda and Contra Costa counties, single taxpayers with annual adjusted gross income (based on recent pay stubs, unemployment payment, or other proof of income) of up to $76,750 meet the income eligibility threshold. Two-person joint filers are eligible with adjusted gross income of up to $87,700, and three-person filers are eligible with AGI of up to $98,650.

Applications are being prioritized based on need. Applicants with the lowest incomes will be processed first. However, everyone who needs this assistance and meets the income-eligibility requirement should apply as it is highly likely that all eligible applicants will receive assistance.

Tenants can apply on their own without a landlord applying. In that case, program staff will contact the landlord. If the landlord declines to participate, payments will go to the tenant, who must sign a legally binding document agreeing to transmit 100% of the payments to their landlord within 15 days.

Landlords may also apply on their own, if their tenant doesn't apply. In this case, program staff will contact the tenant. If the tenant(s) qualifies and agrees, then the landlord will be paid directly the back rent that is owed.

Tenants or Landlords in Contra Costa County or the city of Oakland, submit your application here: Housing Is Key.

Tenants or landlords in Alameda County (excluding Oakland), submit your application through Alameda County's renter-landlord relief program, Alameda County Housing Secure. You can apply online using the Alameda County Housing Secure website or complete a paper application that is available in multiple languages. The paper application is downloadable from Alameda County Housing Secure.

I hope you find this information helpful. It's an honor to serve you in the state Senate.

Sincerely,

Nancy Skinner
State Senator, District 
 

Important Additional Notes:

• Income-eligible applicants may qualify regardless of immigration status and will not be required to show proof of citizenship.
   
• Assistance from the rent relief program does not count as earned income (for renters) and will not affect eligibility for any other state benefit assistance programs, such as CalFresh or CalWORKS
   
• For tenants and landlords who applied previously through Housing Is Key and received up to 80% of back rent, the Housing Is Key program will automatically "top off" those recipients to up to 100% of what is owed without the need to reapply.
   
• Tenants who applied previously but now realize they need help paying future rent have to apply again to have their future rent obligations covered.
   
• Utility Payments. Low-income renters who have been unable to pay some or all of their utilities because of the pandemic — or can't pay future utilities — can also apply for assistance on paying their utility bills. Payments will be made directly to the utility provider.
   
• All renters statewide are protected from eviction for inability to pay rent until at least Sept. 30. For those who submitted a rent relief application by or before Sept 30 are protected from eviction until their application is resolved.
   
• In Alameda County, the eviction ban will remain in effect past Sept. 30 – to 60 days after the county's health emergency is lifted.
   
• Eviction protections only cover inability to pay due to the pandemic and not other actions that otherwise qualify for a just cause eviction.