On Feb. 16, Chula Vista City Council approved to allocate $16.8 million in state and federal funds to help qualifying residents pay past due rent and utilities for those effected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The resolutions (A, B, and C) passed unanimously with Council member John McCann abstaining due to conflict of interest based on his ownership of rental units.
The City received a direct allocation from the Treasury Department at $8.1 in federal funds as a city with a population over 200,000 people. The state moved forward with Senate Bill 91 which provided an additional $8.7 million in rental assistance.
This is for rental units which include apartments, mobile homes, and single family homes, and landlords. It does not include commercial businesses. Payments are made directly to the landlord. A total of 12 months can be paid for payments in arrears and prospective rents. Documentation is required to verify eligibility of income and COVID-19 hardship.
These monies are eligible for rent and utilities depending on the demand of the community.
Chula Vista City Manager Maria V. Kachadoorian said there is a strict timeline in getting these funds out to the community without the funds being reverted to the state or federal government.
For state funding, the City must spend $5.7 million by June 1, $3 million by Aug. 1, and $3 million by Dec. 31. Federal fund deadlines are $5.3 million by Sept. 30 and $2.8 million by Dec. 31.
“It sounds like a lot of time, but it really is not when you are talking about working with nonprofit agencies setting up the programs, getting the message out to the community and people who need the help,” said Kachadoorian. “Because of the strict turnaround time, we also asked City Council to move forward with a contract with South Bay Services, which we currently have a contract with to allocate about $5.7 million to start the program.”
Kachadoorian said there are other nonprofits out there that can offer the same type of services and are sending out a request for proposal to other agencies that would like to participate. She said they will come back to Council at a later date with those proposals.
“We have strict deadlines on getting the money out of the door and we as well want the people to get the money as soon as possible,” she said. “This incorporates some very quick turnaround times.”
Kachadoorian said another challenge, which began when the COVID-19 pandemic started is many people in the community do not have access to the internet and are not comfortable with technology.
“We are working on setting up a call-in phone number that we will market and let people know where they can call and get more information and assistance in English, Spanish and other languages that serve our community,” she set.
Kachadoorian said they are still in the process of setting up the application process but have set up a website trying to create an interest list. As of Feb. 16, more than 300 people are on the list. For more information and to get on the interest list visit https://www.chulavistaca.gov/departments/development-services/housing/assistance-during-covid-19/rentalandutility.
