Legislative Update - June 9, 2021
SCRHA Lawsuit Update
The SCRHA Lawsuit against the County of San Diego and the eviction ban is still moving forward. The County and ACCE, the organization that championed the ordinance, have submitted declarations to the court. SCRHA is responding by gathering more declarations from property owners and managers now that the ordinance is in effect. Please contact Molly Kirkland at 858-751-2200 if you have a tenant who is creating a nuisance at your property or violating the rental agreement but is not an “imminent threat to health and safety.” You may also click here to share your story via an online survey. Deadline is this Friday morning.
County Approves Plan for ARPA Money
The San Diego County Board of Supervisors approved a draft spending plan for $650 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding (ARPA). Included in the funding is $15 million for legal services and counseling for tenants facing eviction and landlords in financial need. Originally, the $15M was only intended to be used for legal services for tenants. Supervisor Jim Desmond, who had previously requested that $15M also be set aside for legal services for housing providers, asked that his colleagues allow the money to be used for small property owners as well. Rental owners of 5 or fewer units qualify for counseling but not for legal assistance. $5M was also approved for “small landlord relief” for property owners whose tenants do not qualify for Emergency Rental Assistance. More details on how the programs will work are forthcoming. Read more.
Rental Assistance Update/Reminder
New Program for San Marcos Residents
North County-based nonprofits TrueCare and Interfaith Community Services started a new joint program for short-term rental assistance to help low-income renters in San Marcos affected by COVID-19. More information.
Many property owners and managers have reported that rental assistance payments are being received. Rental assistance applications are still being accepted as well. Click here for more information on the various rental assistance programs available.
MultiUnit Smoking Survey
This short survey gathers information on opinions about smoking policies in residential housing which may be used to influence future local government policy regarding smoking in rental housing. Start the survey.