Like many people, Trina Harper lost her job when the coronavirus pandemic began.
The 51-year-old Chino resident worked as a safety attendant at an oil refinery, initially relying on his savings to support himself and his three grandchildren. But earlier this year, after her account ran out, she sought basic necessities, such as rent, from the government.
“I saved a lot of money,” Harper said. “I heard about this project in the small community where I live. I ignored it for the first time, but once my savings went down, I was a little desperate.”
Stories such as Harper’s are the reason why governments (including San Bernardino and Riverside counties) introduced rent reduction programs. The livelihoods of many Inland Empire families were hit by the pandemic, and they found themselves on the verge of being deported. Therefore, the inland county government cooperates with non-profit organizations to provide financial assistance to pay rent and provide other guidance.
Harper first applied for state plan housing is the key, and said that she waited two months to get an answer. After that, she received a call saying that her application had been accepted through Inland SoCal United Way, which has cooperated with San Bernardino County to develop a local rent reduction program.
San Bernardino County has launched a program that focuses on providing assistance to its most vulnerable residents—especially after the state’s eviction moratorium ends on Thursday, September 30.
The ban was implemented in August 2020, prohibiting tenants from being evicted due to financial difficulties related to the pandemic for failing to pay rent.
Agustin Arreola, senior implementation manager for Lift to Rise, said: “The benefit of the suspension is that it gives all parties breathing space and allows people to get rental assistance.” The organization is located in the Coachella Valley. Cooperation with Riverside. The County and Southern California Inland United Way promotes outreach for lease assistance.
Governor Gavin Newsom banned deportations at the beginning of the pandemic. The ban was originally scheduled to end on June 30, but the end date was extended.
The federal government provided California with $5.2 million to expand rental assistance, in which tenants must pay 25% of the debt by September 30 to prove that they are eligible. Tenants must also earn 80% or less of the median income in the area and prove that they have experienced financial hardship due to the pandemic.
Inland SoCal United Way is one of these organizations that cooperate with inland counties in outreach and funding. In April, it created a San Bernardino Rent Relief Partnership with San Bernardino County to help residents pay back-up rent and utility debt.
Before formulating the plan, the county is counting on the rent reduction plan that the state will begin to implement in January. After providing additional federal funds for the second round of emergency rental assistance in March, the Supervisory Board decided to launch its own plan.
It requires that the household income of tenants does not exceed 50% of the county’s median income, which is different from the state’s requirement because it specifically targets low-income residents. For example, a family of four earns approximately US$37,650 or less, such as .
The plan also allows applicants to apply for relief from utility debt accumulated since the beginning of the pandemic, which will remain in effect until September 30, 2022, or until the funds are used up. San Bernardino County spokesperson Felisa Cardona said in an email that residents received an average of $13,500 per applicant.
In June 2020, Inland SoCal United Way and Lift to Rise established a program called United Lift for residents of Riverside County.
It requires that the family’s annual income be equal to or less than 80% of the county’s median income. It also includes an average of $7,610.27 in rent and utility assistance per family after March 2021, when the U.S. Treasury Department provided emergency rental assistance. An additional $57 million program.
United Lift has helped 8,000 families in Riverside County, 80% of which are very low-income tenants.
Arreola said that most applicants exceeded their expected funding requirements, averaging about $6,500, to repay debts. He said that this shows that there is a lot of demand. When the government offered stimulus checks, it became clear that people used the money for rent.
“With the introduction of stimulus measures, we did see a slight drop in applications,” he said. “In the next month or a month and a half, we see applications increase again.”
Rent advocacy groups such as the Riverside County Fair Housing Commission also help people apply for rental assistance programs, especially those who encounter language barriers or need clarification in the often daunting process.
“The suspension provides greater opportunities for tenants who are hesitant to apply, especially our many Spanish-speaking audiences,” said Linda Lagunas, the commission’s chief project manager. “Due to the required documents, many challenges have occurred. I think this is the cause of a lot of delays, especially for people with language barriers.”
Arreola said the process of obtaining approval from start to finish takes approximately 45 days.
Lagunas said that most people seeking assistance are elderly residents, single parents, and people whose unemployment benefits have recently ended. She said the committee also saw the unique situation of homeless students and recently separated couples.
Arreola said the demand for housing assistance is not new.
“We can see that people’s top priority is always to have a roof over their heads,” he said. “People want housing period, but we have to make sure it is affordable and achievable for families.”
As for Harper, although she hopes the process will be easier to navigate and she can get help faster, in the end she is happy that the program exists.
“They never made me feel small,” Harper said. “I hope I apply soon.”
This article is part of The California Divide, a collaboration between newsrooms to study income inequality and economic survival in California.
