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

Home Browse Search

Coronavirus Emergency Rental Relief Fund for Tenants Page | 5 Program Guidelines as of June 1, 2021 Re-Certifications of Previous Participants for Additional Assistance: Families who have already applied or been approved for up to $5,500 or $3,000 in emergency rental assistance since May 1, 2020 (previous participants), may be considered for additional assistance up to their total rent owed (up to a maximum of 15 months of rental arrears) since April 1, 2020 after re-certifying their eligibility that they are still having difficulty paying rent because of a COVID-19 impact and submission of the additional verification of income and at risk of homelessness documentation. Re- certification must be documented before an additional payment will be sent to the landlord. A standard set of questions will be asked of both the landlord and renter to determine if the renter qualifies for an additional payment up to a total amount equal to a maximum of 15 months of rental arrears owed since April 1, 2020. Additional forms will be required of the families to re-verify their income and at-risk of homelessness. The family must be currently eligible with all of the current program requirements provided in their Program Guidelines; the family will not need to resubmit a new application and can be re-certified separately from the standard application. If the renter is re-certified as eligible following this recertification process, a check will be sent to their landlord by the United Way of Orange County with a letter that states that the payment must be returned to the United Way if there is a duplication of benefits for a month that has already been paid by the CARES for Tenants Program or the State of California Emergency Rental Assistance Program . Who is Eligible? The term ‘‘eligible household’’ means a household of 1 or more individuals who are obligated to pay rent on a residential dwelling and with respect to which the City determines: (i) Must be a resident of the City of Santa Ana with a current lease or sublease agreement with an address in the City. (I) The lease or sublease agreement must be a current lease, signed by the applicant and the landlord or sublessor that identifies the unit where the applicant resides and establishes the rental payment amount. If a household does not have a signed lease, documentation of residence may include evidence of paying utilities for the residential unit, an attestation by a landlord who can be identified as the verified owner or management agent of the unit, or other reasonable documentation. In the absence of a signed lease, evidence of the amount of a rental payment may include: 1) a written statement signed by both tenant and landlord indicating the residential unit address, monthly rent amount, who the tenant is and who the landlord is; 2) bank statements, check stubs, or other documentation that reasonably establishes a pattern of paying rent; 3) a written attestation by a landlord who can be verified as the legitimate owner or management agent of the unit; or 4) proof of payments from the tenant & balance owed (provided by the landlord/owner – rent ledger). A hand- written or typed written statement signed by both tenant and landlord EXHIBIT 3