Published by FOX Business | July 14, 2021
Gov. Gavin Newsom said more than $1 billion has already been requested
Lower-income Californians who fell behind on their rent payments during the COVID-19 pandemic may now receive 100% of their past-due rent in full and even a few months’ worth of upcoming rent, under a new $5.2 billion program launched by the state.
The program, which was included in the 2021-22 fiscal year budget signed by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom earlier this week, is the largest rental assistance program in the nation. It will be paid for using federal taxpayer dollars the state of California received for coronavirus relief, paying for rent due as far back as April of 2020 and for future rent through September of this year.
An additional $2 billion has also been dedicated to pay for residents’ past-due utility bills.
“With robust COVID rental protections and the largest rent relief program of any state in the nation, we’re protecting millions of struggling Californians worried about keeping a roof over their heads or making next month’s mortgage by covering 100% of past-due and prospective rent payments, as well as overdue water and utility bills,” Newsom said.
