The coronavirus has disrupted many aspects of our lives from causing a national health crisis to the havoc in our economy and the learning schedules of our children. One area that has cause for concern on many fronts is housing.
Renters in Los Angeles who have fallen behind due to job loss or reduced work hours have been forced to choose between necessities including food, utilities, and rent. Many programs created by the State, the County of Los Angeles and the City of Los Angeles have provided funding assistance and moratoriums on collection of rents and evictions.
In the recently passed State Budget, I fought to protect California families by including my stimulus package for South Los Angeles. This includes:
- Keeping local clinics fully funded ensuring they can continue to provide services to the most at-risk residents in the district.
- Providing $100 million in available loans and grants to area small businesses so they can continue to operate and employ community members
- Ensuring millions of dollars to help families on Medi-Cal; fund immigrant legal services, expand the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for undocumented residents and provide $15 million to undocumented students to continue with their education.
- Adding crucial hardship expansion funding to help those on unemployment but in need of additional funds due to extreme hardship.
These are supportive programs to help ease the financial strains many residents are facing.
The budget also includes:
- Provide new investments in our communities by providing $300 million in funds for homelessness programs and provides a financial boost to working families through the expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit to Californians and small business owners with children that file their taxes using Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers.
- Expand the CalWORKs program back to the 60-month timeclock that existed prior to the Great Recession to better benefit California families and children living through uncertain economic times.
For renters in need of continuing support, the City of Los Angeles has created a $100 million fund to provide two-months of rent payments up to $1,000 for those who qualify. Please check the resources below to see what programs and services are available to you and how you can apply.
As always, my office is here to help. Call (213) 744-2111 with questions or concerns.
These are trying times for everyone, but know I am working to bring added resources to our community and together we will get through this crisis.
Wishing you safety, health, and strength,
Reggie Jones-Sawyer
Chair, Assembly Public Safety Committee
Representing the 59th Assembly District including the communities of Huntington Park, South Los Angeles, Walnut Park, Florence-Firestone, and Exposition Park
Los Angeles County/City Renter’s Programs:
https://wwwa.lacda.org/programs/rent-relief