City of Los Angeles Emergency Renters Assistance Program Applications will be accepted from Monday, July 13 at 8:00 AM through Friday, July 17 at 11:59 PM
Program Information and Frequently Asked Questions
Background
To assist LA’s tenants and landlords affected by the current COVID-19 health pandemic, and prevent displacement of renters, the citywide Emergency Rental Assistance Subsidy Program was created by LA City Council President Nury Martinez, the City Council and HCIDLA, with the support of Mayor Eric Garcetti. The program will provide a temporary rent subsidy for tenants in the City of Los Angeles who are unable to pay rent due to circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The program allocates $103,000,000 to provide a rent subsidy to Los Angeles City renters impacted by the COVID-19 health pandemic and is anticipated to assist 50,000 Los Angeles households. The Los Angeles Housing + Community Investment Department (HCIDLA) is charged with the implementation of the Emergency Rental Assistance Subsidy Program (ERAS).
About The Program
Information and Eligibility
The Los Angeles City Emergency Renters Assistance Subsidy Program will provide a temporary rent subsidy for eligible residential tenants in the City of Los Angeles who are unable to pay rent due to circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The subsidy will provide a grant of up to $1,000 per month to cover the monthly lease rent (based on the rent paid as of March 1, 2020), with a maximum of $2,000 per household. The rent subsidy will be paid directly to the tenant’s landlord on the tenant’s behalf. This program will be available to renters of multifamily rental housing who meet the following eligibility criteria:
Residents of the City of Los Angeles, regardless of immigration status. To verify if you live in the City of Los Angeles, go to: neighborhoodinfo.lacity.org;
Households that can provide proof of tenancy;
Household annual income at or below 80% of Area Median Income (AMI) level prior to the COVID-19 crisis; and
2019 HUD Low-Income Limits for Los Angeles (Formerly known as 80% of AMI)
Household Size
1 Person
2 Persons
3 Persons
4 Persons
5 Persons
6 Persons
7 Persons
8 Persons
Income Limit
$58,450
$66,800
$75,150
$83,500
$90,200
$96,900
$103,550
$110,250
A tenant whose income is 80 percent or less of the Area Median Income, as adjusted for household size, as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. (Effective April 24, 2019)
Households that can provide documentation of loss or reduction of income due to COVID-19 after March 13, 2020.
ONLY APPLICATIONS WITH LA CITY ADDRESSES WILL BE ACCEPTED.
To Apply Online
If you meet the program requirements:
Check your application status here:
To Apply by Phone
Application Hotline: 1-844-944-1868
Hotline Dates and Hours of Operation:
July 13 – July 17 2020, 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Have the following information ready when you call:
Your and your landlords contact information (name, address, and phone number or email address)
Total number of household members
Total Household Annual Income in 2019
Monthly rent amount
TTY line (for hearing or speach impaired): 1-844-325-1398
Frequently Asked Questions
Tenants FAQs
A tenant must complete an online application at hcidla.lacity.org. Applications will be accepted from Monday, July 13 at 8am through Friday, July 17 at 11:59pm. If a tenant does not have access to a computer, tenants can call (844) 944-1868 and a representative can complete an online application on their behalf. The hotline can support tenants who do not speak English and will be available from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM every day during the application period. TTY: 844-325-1398 is available for persons with hearing or speech impairments during the same hours.
The application period is NOT first-come, first-served. Applications will be randomly selected after the application period has ended on July 17th. So, all applications received by 11:59 p.m. on July 17 have an equal chance of being selected. Multiple application submissions may deem an application not eligible.
Loss of income due to workplace closure or reduced hours.
Loss of income or increased child care costs because daycare or schools are closed.
Medical costs for you or a household member who is ill with COVID-19.
Loss of income due to government-ordered emergency measures after March 13, 2020.
If your total gross household income, including income of all adults, 18 years of age or older, living in the home, is at or below the dollar amount for the household size listed in the chart below, you may qualify:
2019 HUD Low-Income Limits for Los Angeles (Formerly known as 80% of AMI)
Household Size
1 Person
2 Persons
3 Persons
4 Persons
5 Persons
6 Persons
7 Persons
8 Persons
Income Limit
$58,450
$66,800
$75,150
$83,500
$90,200
$96,900
$103,550
$110,250
A tenant whose income is 80 percent or less of the Area Median Income, as adjusted for household size, as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. (Effective April 24, 2019)
Once the application period ends, eligible applications will be randomly selected. If an applicant is selected, they will be notified by email or phone and asked to submit documentation to prove their eligibility.
Due to the high volume of traffic, some applicants received an application confirmation number and others did not receive an application number; however, all applicants will be able to look up the status of their application online. Applicants can use their application confirmation number to check their status. Or if you did not receive a confirmation number, you can check your application status by checking a combination of your email address & zip code or phone number & zip code.
If your application was eligible but not selected, you will receive an email indicating that you are now on a waiting list. Your application will continue to be on file and may be selected if more funds become available.
If there are more than two homes on a single parcel, the property is considered multifamily and eligible for the program. However, if there is only ONE home on the property, that property is not eligible.
Unfortunately, renters who receive Section 8 housing choice voucher, Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) or live in project-based Section 8 or public housing are not eligible to participate in the program.
The rent subsidy is paid directly to the landlord. The rent subsidy will not be paid to the landlord unless the tenant has been qualified by providing documentation to prove eligibility and the landlord also agrees to participate in the program.
In order for a landlord to receive the rent subsidy the landlord will be required to agree:
Not to charge any interest or late fees for rents owed;
Not to impose a rent increase during the repayment period, which covers one year after the end of the Emergency Declaration.
A tenant will be required to provide:
Proof that they are a resident in the City of Los Angeles, such as an identification card, etc.
Proof of tenancy, such as a rental agreement/lease, or a notice issued by your current landlord, etc.
Proof of household income, such as a tax return, 1099 or employer contact information, etc.
Documentation of loss or reduced income after March 13, 2020, due to COVID-19, such as layoff letter, etc.
No, there is no reimbursement or backpay. The subsidy is intended for rent-burdened tenants and will apply to current or future rent payments.
No, only one application per rental unit should be submitted. Multiple application submissions may deem an application not eligible. Your total household income, including income of all adults, 18 years of age or older, living in the home, will be used to determine your eligibility for the program.
No, you are not eligible for the rent subsidy. This program is designed to provide relief to tenants who were low-to-moderate income prior to COVID-19 and financially impacted by COVID-19.
Yes, the online application is available in many languages. Look for the google translation button and click the desired language. The hotline can also support tenants who do not speak English.
The program is open to all renters, regardless of immigration status. We will not ask for immigration status, nor is it considered in determining eligibility.
The online application will be available from July 13th to July 17th. The phone line will be available from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
Household income is total household income earned, so the household’s income must be at or below this amount before taxes, depending on the number of people in the household.
Yes, just as they are taxed for their regular rental income. Landlords will be required to submit a IRS-1099 form.
Applicants need to provide some documentation that they live in the rental unit and pay rent. It does not need to be the lease/rental agreement. It could be a notice from the landlord or a utility bill or some other document that connects them to that address.
The recommendations for the ERAS program approved by the City Council are for a program targeting funds for multi-family rentals. All the programs administered by HCID are for multi-family rentals, which are properties with 2 or more units on a lot. HCID is able to verify multi-family properties through our SCEP database, which registers all legal multi-family rental units. The program is open to approximately 880,000 rental units with two or more units on a lot. Lastly, unfortunately, there are not sufficient funds and capacity to assist every type of renter.
No, a renter does not need to be behind in rent but does need to have a reduction in reduced income related to COVID-19 and meet household income eligibility requirements.
A subtenant is eligible to apply for the program. However, the subtenant, like all applicants, must have income at or below 80% of AMI and must have a reduction or loss of employment due to COVID-19 since March 13, 2020.
Household income is based on the total income of all members (related & unrelated) living in the same rental unit, so the total household income of all the roommates must be at or below 80% of AMI prior to March 13, 2020. If one of the roommates has a significant loss or reduction in income, they may apply.
Your government-issued photo ID with a different address will still be needed to confirm your identity. You will be able to provide a different document to prove your tenancy such as a notice addressed in your name from your current landlord, utility bill in your name with your rental unit address dated between March to August 2020.
Landlords FAQs
No, the tenant must qualify for the program based on their household composition and income. However, we will share information about the program with landlord organizations, and landlords are encouraged to refer their tenants to apply.
Landlords will be notified when their tenants are approved for the program, as well as the specific months of rents that will be subsidized.
No, a landlord must agree to waive any late fees, interest or other fees. Landlords should also be aware of the COVID-19 emergency renter protections that prohibit charging interest or late fees on unpaid rent due to COVID-19. Learn more here: hcidla.lacity.org/covid-19-renter-protections.
No, the rent subsidy payment will be paid directly to the landlord by direct deposit.
Yes, IRS rules will require a 1099 to be issued for rent subsidy payments.
Not to impose a rent increase during the repayment period, which covers one year after the end of the Emergency Declaration.
The landlord will receive one payment of $2,000 maximum.
Emergency Renters Relief Program Flyers
Click below to download:
Disclaimer
Please be aware of scammers. City employees will not ask you for personal information, such as your Social Security Number, over the telephone related to this Initiative. Please use a secure means to transmit personal contact information to the City for this Initiative.
Any personal information provided to the department may be considered public records subject to public disclosure by requesting parties, pursuant to the California Public Records Act, though certain confidential information may be redacted prior to disclosure to requesting parties.
The City of Los Angeles is not responsible for any damages that may arise from the use of, the inability to use, or misuse of the web site and/or materials contained on the web site, or that result from mistakes, omissions, interruptions, deletion of files, errors, defects, delays in operation, or transmission, or any failure of performance.