California renters still struggling to pay the rent, as the pandemic wanes, are now shielded from eviction for another three months, or through September 30th. Governor Newsom has signed the legislation for low-income residents. But what’s perhaps more notable is that the bill increases the value of reimbursement the state’s emergency rental assistance program provides. It now covers 100-percent of past-due and prospective payments, as well as utility bills, for income-qualifying tenants. Brendan Phillips is Nevada County’s Housing Resources Manager. He says it also buys more time for Hospitality House, which was bracing for a surge in clients, if the moratorium had been lifted after the end of June. He also helps to administer the program…
click to listen to Brendan Phillips
Tenants still have to submit a declaration, saying they’re unable to make full rent and pay at least 25-percent of their monthly rent. But Phillips also notes that landlords can still hike current rates…
click to listen to Brendan Phillips
The legislation also allows tenants to access rental funds directly, if their landlord chooses not to participate in the program. And it ensures landlords can receive compensation, even if their otherwise income-qualified tenants have already vacated a unit.
Rebecca Terrassa
what about the tenants that are using this moratorium to just not pay and will not cooperate with the landlord to get assistance. This is an invasion of property rights. These comments are an embarrassment to our county. Instead of paying these county mangers more and more to do next to nothing, how about putting the money in to the community.