LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles City Councilman Mitch O’Farrell proposed an additional $2 million Tuesday toward a rental aid program for tenants and landlords in the 13th District.
The program, which began last week, provides grants of up to $5,000 per household for renters in his district who make 80% or less of the area median income, or AMI.
Demand for the grants has been high, according to O’Farrell’s office. If the council approves the funding, a total of $5 million would be allocated toward the program.
“The CD13 Rental Aid Program is off to a strong start, and we want to make sure we help more people. It’s as simple as that,” O’Farrell said in a statement. “With this additional funding, we will provide financial assistance to hundreds of additional renter households in my district. Our mission to keep people housed continues, and we won’t let up.”
The city’s eviction moratorium due to COVID-19 hardship is set to expire on Jan. 31. Landlords can resume increasing rent on rent-controlled apartments beginning in February 2024.
O’Farrell’s district, which stretches from Hollywood to Glassell Park, has the highest number of rental and multi-family units in Los Angeles, according to Anna Ortega, assistant general manager of the city’s housing department.
Under the eligibility requirements, a family of two making up to $76,250 or a family of four making up to $95,300 would qualify for the program. Landlords who own four or fewer units plus a single-family home can also apply on behalf of their tenants.
The program will open to applications through Nov. 4 at 11:59 p.m. O’Farrell said it is unclear how many people the program would help until it is fully subscribed, but his office noted it is expected to assist “thousands” of renters and mom-and-pop landlords in the district.
A $1 million program he introduced at the beginning of the pandemic providing $2,000 per household aided around 500 households, according to O’Farrell’s office.
Applications can be found at: cd13.com/rentalaid. Applications can also be submitted by calling a rental subsidy hotline at 855-490-3481, which is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m
