LA Renters Assistance Fund

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.

1. Loss of income due to workplace closure or reduced hours.
2. Loss of income or increased child care costs because daycare or schools are closed.
3. Medical costs for you or a household member who is ill with COVID-19.
4. 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)

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 evict the tenant for 6 months after the expiration of the Declaration of Local Emergency due to COVID-19;
• 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:

1. Proof that they are a resident in the City of Los Angeles, such as an identification card, etc.
2. Proof of tenancy, such as a rental agreement/lease, or a notice issued by your current landlord, etc.
3. Proof of household income, such as a tax return, 1099 or employer contact information, etc.
4. 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.