Housing is Key State Rental Assistance Program to End on March 31, 2022
Renters and Housing Providers Must Apply by March 31st
The State of California’s “Housing is Key” Rent Relief Program will end the application period effective as of March 31, 2022, despite eviction moratoriums continuing well beyond that date for owners in Los Angeles County and in several jurisdictions in Northern California.
The Housing is Key program provides financial assistance to housing providers and renters who need help with unpaid rent or utilities due to COVID-19. The Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles urges renters and housing providers to apply for rental assistance before the end of the application period. Applications are being accepted until 5:00 p.m. on March 31, 2022, for unpaid rent and/or utilities owed for periods through and including March 31, 2022. Once an application has been successfully processed, both the landlord and renter will be notified of the next steps. For applications filed by the application deadline, these applications will continue to be processed after March 31, 2022.
The “Housing is Key” program may cover up to 100% of renters’ unpaid rent dating back to April 1, 2020, as well as future payments for up to 18-months through the period ending March 31, 2022. The program also has funding available for owed utility payments and may cover 100% of owed payments for a total of 12 months, including for months dating back to April 1, 2020, as well. California was initially allocated $5.4 billion in Federal rental assistance fund, and is now seeking an additional $1.9 billion from the Federal government from excess funds that were not needed by other jurisdictions.
Income-eligible renter applicants may qualify regardless of immigration status and will not be required to show proof of citizenship. Assistance from the “Housing is Key” Rent Relief Program does not count as earned income (for renters) and will not affect eligibility for any other benefit assistance programs, such as CalFresh or CalWORKS. Housing providers or their renters, if qualified, are eligible to receive up to a maximum of 18-months of unpaid rent and/or utility costs.
Applicants that have already submitted an application at housingiskey.com should not submit a new application. All applicants (renters or housing providers) in need of additional financial assistance or to find the status of a pending application should check online at www.housing.ca.gov or call the “hotline” at (833) 430-2122. Also, applicants can request assistance in applying, submitting paperwork, or scheduling an appointment by calling (833) 687-0967. Assistance is available in multiple languages.
Renters and housing providers should contact “Housing is Key” directly regarding the rental assistance program unless the local jurisdiction where their property is located is still accepting applications.
