Rent relief and more
September 2021
Dear Neighbors and Friends,
If you owe past due rent and utilities payments, or will owe them in the future, please visit HousingIsKey.com. You may qualify for up to one year’s worth of rent and utilities relief, and applying for rent relief qualifies you for protection from eviction.
Rental assistance for renters and landlords in the City of Los Angeles is available through the City of Los Angeles Emergency Renters Assistance Program. Rental assistance for renters and landlords is available in East Los Angeles and Los Angeles County through the California COVID-19 Rent Relief Program. City of LA, East LA, and LA County renters and landlords should apply for assistance through the State program via HousingIsKey.com. Residents can also call the appointment call center at 833-687-0967 to get help filling out an application.
Renters who already applied for up to one full year’s worth of back rent and utilities relief earlier this year, should have been provided with detailed instructions on next steps. If you have any questions about the City of LA’s past or present rent relief programs, please visit hcidla.lacity.org. If you have any questions about East LA or LA County’s past or present rent relief programs, please visit https://www.lacda.org.
In the City of LA, tenants cannot be evicted before the expiration of the City’s Emergency Declaration. The City’s Emergency Declaration is still in effect and will continue to be effective until further notice. The City of LA ordinance protects tenants that have unpaid rent due to COVID-19 until August 1, 2022. If you receive an eviction notice, please file a complaint by calling (866) 557-7368 or online or seek legal assistance at Stay Housed L.A.
If you live in East LA or anywhere else in LA County outside of the City of LA, you are protected by a Temporary Eviction Moratorium, effective March 4, 2020, through September 30, 2021, (unless it is extended by the LA County Board of Supervisors). This law places a Countywide ban on evictions for residential and commercial tenants, including mobile home space renters. Under the County’s Moratorium, tenants may not be evicted for COVID-19 related nonpayment of rent, as well as no-fault reasons, nuisance, denying entry to a landlord, or unauthorized occupants or pets – if related to COVID-19.
The COVID-19 pandemic has cost people their jobs and livelihoods. This has left an estimated one-third of households not being able to make rent and faced with the prospect of losing their homes. This is a fear no one in our community should have to face. You have rights though, and Stay Housed L.A. can help protect those rights. Stay Housed L.A.is a partnership between Los Angeles County, the City of Los Angeles and local community and legal service providers. Together, we provide the residents of Los Angeles County, from Lancaster to Long Beach, with information & resources to keep people in their homes. To learn more, please visit https://www.stayhousedla.org/.
HOUSING & UTILITIES RESOURCES
Behind on rent and utilities?
Click here to apply for up to one year’s worth of back rent and utilities relief.
Can’t afford your light and gas bills?
Click here to see if you qualify (and sign up for) a lower utility bill.
Fighting eviction?
Click here and here to learn how to access legal services, tenants rights, and other advocacy groups.
Experiencing homelessness?
Click here for information on the shelter(s) nearest you. You can also text your zip code to 898211.
HEALTHCARE RESOURCES
Covid-19
Click here for vaccine information. Click here for testing information. Click here for updates.
Covered CA
Click here to sign up for low cost health, vision, and dental insurance plans for as little as $1 per month through the Covered CA marketplace. Subsidies available for families making up to $154,000. Extended enrollment deadlines available.
Medi-Cal
Click here to sign up for free health, vision, and dental insurance under Medi-Cal. Low-income California children and youth under age 26 may apply regardless of immigration status. Low-income adults over age 26 with Social Security Numbers may also apply.
More options
Click here for free CMSP health, vision, and dental plans for adults not able to sign up for Medi-Cal because of their age and immigration status. Click here to find a free clinic near you, regardless of age, income, immigration status, etc.
FOOD RESOURCES
Baby food
Click here to enroll in the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program if you are pregnant or have a child under 5. WIC has formula, food, breastfeeding help, healthcare, and other resources for pregnant women, new moms, babies, and infants.
Food banks
Click here for information on the food bank(s) nearest you. You can also text your zip code to 800 548 6479.
School meals
Click here for the CA Meals for Kids Mobile Application. Click here to access SFSP and find meals for kids during holidays, vacations, over the weekend, and any other days that school meals are unavailable. You can also text FOOD to 877877 to find free summer meals near you.
Food for seniors
Click here for nutrition sites and home-delivered meals.
Pay less for food
CalFresh also known as SNAP gives money to individuals and families for food from supermarkets, farmers markets, and more.
FINANCIAL RESOURCES
Not currently working
Click here to access the Employment Development Department (EDD). EDD processes pandemic unemployment compensation, pandemic emergency unemployment compensation, pandemic unemployment assistance, unemployment insurance, paid family leave, and disability claims so you can get by without a paycheck.
Find a good job
CalJobs has job search and career coaching tools, as well as employment centers where you can get whatever you need in person.
Providing for kids
Click here to sign up for CalWORKS also known as TANF, so you can access money for families who need help paying for housing and other basic needs. Click here to enroll in Headstart, so you can access early childhood education centers, food programs, and other resources to support both kids and parents.
CalEITC, CA Young Child Tax Credit & Golden State Stimulus
Click here to learn how to file your state income tax return for free and see if you qualify for up to $3,000 from CalEITC, up to $1,000 from the CA Young Child Tax Credit, up to $1,200 in Golden State Stimulus I, and up to $1,100 in Golden State Stimulus II.
65+ or disabled
SSI gives money to adults and kids with disabilities, as well as to seniors who need help paying for housing and other basic needs.
Save on utilities
CARE/FERA/CSD and other programs offer lower rates on nearly all utility, gas, and electrical power bills no matter where you live.
Home internet you can afford
Click here to find affordable broadband options and low-cost home internet plans.
Get a phone
California LifeLine offers discounted home telephone and/or cell phone plans so every person can make and receive calls.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
211 Los Angeles County
Click here to visit the 211 LA website and access resources for persons experiencing homelessness, partners fleeing domestic violence, runaway teens, Californians displaced by wildfires, and more. You can also call 211 to speak with a specialist who can help you.
My office’s top priority is ensuring that you have access to the support you need. Please visit my website https://a51.asmdc.org/ or call 213 483 5151 if you need assistance accessing resources for your family or business.
In Service,
Wendy Carrillo
Assemblywoman, 51st District