DATE: February 2, 2021
TO: Honorable Council President Jennifer Campbell
FROM: Councilmember Vivian Moreno
SUBJECT: Request to Docket Emergency Rental Assistance Funding to Public (Print Memo)
The Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) has been a successful program that has assisted many San Diegans who cannot pay their rent because they have lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Initial funding for the program has been exhausted and nearly four months ago the Council allocated an additional $5 million of CARES Act Community Development Block Grant funds to the program with the intent of quickly distributing assistance to households that have been financially impacted by the pandemic. Unfortunately, this funding has yet to be made available for eligible families and individuals.
The San Diego Housing Commission has stated that their intention is to delay the application period for this funding by up to three months in order to combine it with the last round of stimulus funding. This is unacceptable. San Diegans need help now and cannot afford to wait several additional months to gain access to this relief funding to help pay their rent. The ERAP is something the City Council strongly supports and eight Councilmembers specifically named the program as a priority to fund in FY22. It is critical that we continue to ensure this program is funded and we distribute the funding as quickly as possible to San Diegans who need it so badly.
I am requesting that the Council President docket an item as soon as possible to allow the Council to direct the Housing Commission to immediately make these funds available.
