LA leaders advance measure to give $1K per month to renters struggling amid pandemic

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved an initiative to make monthly payments of $1,000 to county renters affected economically by the coronavirus pandemic.

The Emergency Rent Assistance Program would tap into the county’s share of federal stimulus funds as well as private funds to provide an amount of three months rent to households hit hardest by retail and service job losses and furloughs, the Press-Telegram reported.

The board of supervisors has already approved a rent moratorium and eviction freeze, while other cities in the county, including Los Angeles, Pasadena and Long Beach, have imposed similar pauses.

However, under these freezes, renters will be required to pay back rent once the pandemic ends.

The county is subject to a stay-at-home order through at least May 15.

County supervisors Janice Hahn and Hilda Solis first proposed the payments, which would not have to be paid back, last Thursday.

“As we fight the spread of this virus and do everything we can to save lives, this crisis has devastated families who were already living on the brink of poverty,” Hahn said, according to NBC Los Angeles. “The eviction moratorium we have in place has provided some relief, but many families are going to struggle to pay back the rent they owe after this crisis is over.”

“Housing stability is crucial for residents both during and after the COVID-19 crisis,” Solis said. “We know the county’s eviction moratorium helps protect renters against homelessness now, but it won’t help them once past-due rent needs to be paid back.”

The approval comes the day after California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), along with Oregon Gov. Kate Brown (D) and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D) announced a partnership between West Coast states to develop plans to reopen their states’ economies. Governors in the northeast announced a similar coalition Monday.