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August 4, 2020


Four Days to Go—Application Deadline Nears for Low-Income Households Affected by COVID-19


Online applications due Friday, August 7, at covidapplication.sdhc.org for City of San Diego’s COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program


SAN DIEGO, CA — Only four more days remain for households in the City of San Diego with low income that have experienced financial hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic to apply for one-time emergency financial help to pay their rent.

Applications for the City of San Diego’s COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program must be submitted online by Friday, August 7, 2020, at covidapplication.sdhc.org (For the best user experience, the Chrome or Safari web browsers are recommended.)

“Individuals and families struggling due to COVID-19 have four days left to apply for an economic lifeline to help them stay in their homes,” said City Councilmember Chris Ward, who proposed the City of San Diego’s COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program. “Low income households are eligible to apply for up to $4,000 in rental assistance at covidapplication.sdhc.org.”

The San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC) administers the program, which will provide up to $4,000 per household to help eligible families and individuals pay past-due and upcoming rent.

“I encourage low-income households throughout the City of San Diego to visit covidapplication.sdhc.org or contact one of the community-based organizations we’re partnering with to learn more about the program and submit their applications no later than this Friday,” SDHC President & CEO Richard C. Gentry said. “Help is available through this program for families and individuals who are experiencing financial uncertainty because of COVID-19.”

Eight Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) are available to help individuals and families complete their applications, either by phone or in person:

These CBOs are among 60 organizations to which SDHC reached out to ask for help to raise awareness about this program and potentially help households complete their applications. All of the CBOs SDHC contacted are mission-driven, serving diverse populations throughout the City of San Diego.

To be eligible for the program, households must meet the following criteria:

  • The household lives at a City of San Diego address.
  • Household income in January 2020, was at or below 60 percent of the San Diego Area Median Income, based on household size ($64,200 per year for a family of four).
  • The household is NOT currently receiving any rental subsidies.
  • The household is NOT currently a tenant of a property owned or managed by SDHC.
  • The household does NOT have savings to meet their financial need.
  • The household has eligible immigration status (U.S. citizen/U.S. National, lawful permanent resident/conditional permanent resident, a refugee/person seeking asylum or granted asylum).
  • The household experienced hardship directly related to COVID-19.

All applicants who meet the eligibility requirements will have the opportunity to be selected to receive assistance. Priority will be given to families with minor children and households with at least one person age 62 or older. Applications will be sorted and assigned numbers at random to identify the applicants who will receive help to pay their rent.

To apply, tenants need to have their landlord’s name, mailing address and phone number. Applicants are also required to upload and submit supporting documents as part of their online application:

  • Photo identification for the applicant (legal driver’s license, state ID, or US Passport)
  • Most recent lease agreement
  • Current utility bill
  • Documentation of all sources of household income in January 2020 (pay stubs, 2019 tax returns, veterans benefits, Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Cal-Works, child support, workers compensation, state disability, unemployment benefits, self-employment income, other)
  • Documentation demonstrating loss of income or increase in medical expenses due to COVID-19 (dated on or after March 1, 2020)

Approximately 3,500 households could receive emergency rental assistance through the program, if all households received the maximum of $4,000. SDHC staff will coordinate with selected applicants and their landlord or property management company to disburse payments. All payments will be made directly to the landlord or property management company by direct deposit.

Payments are expected to be made beginning in mid-August and continuing through September and potentially into October.

More than 9,400 applications have been submitted since the application period began on July 20, with approximately 63 percent of those (about 5,900 applications) coming from households with City of San Diego ZIP Codes. Only households in the City of San Diego are eligible for assistance from the program.

Additional information about the program is available by phone at (619) 535-6921 or on SDHC’s website.

The City Council voted 9-0 on June 30, 2020, to authorize the expenditure of $15.1 million in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds for the emergency rental assistance program.

Philanthropic donations also are encouraged to support the program. Donations made payable to SDHC Building Opportunities Inc., SDHC’s nonprofit affiliate, may be made through the nonprofit’s GoFundMe charity page for this program. For more information about making a donation, please email covidrentdonations@sdhc.org

For information about this and other programs in response to COVID-19, please visit SDHC’s website, www.sdhc.org/about-us/coronavirus-covid-19/

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Media Contacts: 

Ansermio “AJ” Estrada

Communications Manager

City Councilmember Chris Ward

619-227-0421

estradaaj@sandiego.gov

 

Scott Marshall

Vice President of Communications

San Diego Housing Commission

619-578-7138

scottm@sdhc.org

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