Anaheim landlords whose rentals have gone unpaid during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic can now turn to the city for financial help.
It will begin accepting applications for the program March 1, after city council on Feb. 16 green lighted the initiative.
The rent subsidy program was created for landlords who “are having a hard time paying their mortgages and their debt obligations,” Anaheim spokesperson Mike Lyster told The Epoch Times.
Program funds came from a national emergency rental assistance (ERA) program.
The city will administer $30 million in federal funding locally through the Anaheim Housing Authority.
If the landlord decides not to participate, rental assistance will be provided directly to the tenant, limited to 25 percent of the total debt owed.
Starting Aug. 1, landlords can go to small claims court to pursue unpaid rent from April 1, 2020, through March 31.
Anaheim previously provided $5 million in emergency rental assistance to landlords.
The City of Irvine will discuss the rollout of the rental assistance funds during a Feb. 23 meeting.