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 June 1, 2021 mountain to climb. We are here to help. The Coronavirus Emergency Rental Relief Fund for Tenants (Santa Ana “CARES for Tenants”) aims to help struggling low-income renters who have been unable to make their rent payments since April 1, 2020. Payments shall be made 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 landlord. Low-income tenants who earn less than 80% of the Area Median Income and who are in need of direct rental assistance for rental arrears 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/cares-for- tenants. Read more below. How it Works Low-income renters who are struggling to pay their rent due to the Coronavirus can receive assistance in the form of a payment to their landlord for 100% of their rental arrears / past due rent owed since April 1, 2020, up to a maximum of 15 months of rental arrears. The City will not make payments for prospective rent payments (current or future rent), but will provide assistance to eliminate rental arrears (maximum of 15 months) for eligible households. Specifically, an eligible household may receive up to twelve (12) months of assistance (plus an additional three (3) months if necessary to ensure housing stability for the household, subject to the availability of funds). [The aggregate amount of financial assistance an eligible household may receive under ERA2, when combined with financial assistance under ERA1, m ust not exceed 18 months]. Payment will be made by the United Way of Orange County on behalf of the City. For any payments made by the United Way of Orange County to a landlord on behalf of an eligible household, the United Way of Orange County shall provide documentation of such payments to the household. The City of Santa has partnered with four local nonprofit organizations to review applications and determine the eligibility of families for assistance . Specifically, the City is working with The Salvation Army of Orange County, Catholic Charities of Orange County, Latino Health Access and Families Forward. Payments will be made by the United Way of Orange County on behalf of one of these four 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 written sorting methodology process that prioritizes eligible households where the income of the household does not exceed 50 EXHIBIT 3