Item 09 - First Amendment to Emergency Rental Assistance Program Spending Plan

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Coronavirus Emergency Rental Relief Fund for Tenants Page | 2 Program Guidelines as of November 3March 1, 20210 directly to the landlord on behalf of the eligible household, except that, if the landlord does not agree to accept such payment from the City after outreach to the landlord by the City, the City may make such payments directly to the eligible household for the purpose of making payments to the landlordAssistance is paid directly to the landlord or property owner. Low-income tenants who earn less than 80% of the Area Median Income and who are in need of direct rental assistance should apply. In reviewing applications for financial assistance to eligible households, the City shall prioritize consideration of the applications of an eligible household where the income of the household does not exceed 50 percent of the area median income. This assistance is a grant and does not have to be paid back. See the Frequently Asked Questions on the program at www.santa- ana.org/covid19/rental-relief/cares-for-tenants. Read more below. How does it work? Low-income renters who are struggling to pay their rent due to the Coronavirus who have not previously received assistance from this program can get one-time assistance in the form of a $35,5000 payment to their landlord. The assistance is a one-time payment only flat amount of $35,5000 per household. Assistance can must first be used to pay rent owed since March 1913, 2020 before payment of current or future rent, current rent, or future rent if your family has been impacted by the Coronavirus. Specifically, to the extent that applicants have rental arrears, the City may not make payments for prospective rent payments (current or future rent) unless the City has also provided assistance to reduce an eligible household’s rental arrears. For any payments made by the City to a landlord on behalf of an eligible household, the City shall provide documentation of such payments to such household. The City of Santa has partnered with two local nonprofit organizations to review applications and make payments directly to landlords. Specifically, the City is working with the Salvation Army of Orange County and Catholic Charities of Orange County. Payments will be made from one of these two nonprofit organizations to the landlord. Applications must be complete, including the required documents, before the application can be submitted. Applications will be selected based on a lottery and sorting methodology process that prioritizes eligible households where the income of the household does not exceed 50 percent of the area median income. Each approved applicant will receive $35,5000 paid to their landlord or property manager for any rent payments incurred after the State of Emergency was declared on March 19th13th, 2020. If the landlord does not agree to accept such payment from the City after outreach to the landlord by the City, the City may make such payments directly to the eligible household for the purpose of making payments to the landlord. Specifically, the City must make reasonable efforts to obtain the cooperation of landlords to accept payments. Outreach will be considered complete if a request for participation is sent in writing, by certified mail, to the landlord, and the landlord does not respond to the request within 21 calendar days after mailing; or, if the City has made at least three Field Code Changed EXHIBIT 5EXHIBIT 1