Mel Wilson Calls on City Leaders to Immediately Release COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) Funds
“Less than 15% of funding is in the queue or has been paid. This is unacceptable.”
August 6, 2021, Los Angeles—Businessman and former Metro Board Member Mel Wilson called on the Los Angeles City Council and city administrators to immediately release COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program funds. Wilson is a candidate for mayor of Los Angeles.
Data from the City’s dashboard on ERAP Report Dashboard for ERAP – HCIDLA (lacity.org) reveals that there are $530 million in claims with the average claim for back rent over $10,000. Of the $236 million available, only $35 million is in process to be disbursed. Wilson expressed his displeasure “Less than 15% of funding is in the queue or has been paid. This is unacceptable.”
There are 58,125 tenants and 37,513 landlords who are eligible to receive ERAP funding. “The bulk of the money is owed to mom and pop housing providers many whom are retirees that depend on rental income as their sole source of income.” Wilson continued “We have a homeless crisis. The last thing we need to do is to fail renters who qualify for rental assistance and add to our homeless population because of red tape and bureaucratic delays. Keeping people in their homes helps stop the spread of the virus.”
California’s eviction moratorium ends on September 30th. The City’s ERAP program accepted applications from March 30-April 30 2021. According to the City (Emergency Renters Assistance Program (lacity.org):
Applications for the first round of ERAP funding closed on April 30th. There was unprecedented demand that far exceeded the program funding. As more State and Federal resources become available, the City will determine when the application window can be re-opened. We expect that applications might open in the Fall.
On June 28th, Governor Newsom signed AB 832, the most comprehensive COVID rental assistance package in the country, which increases cash assistance to cover 100% of past due and prospective rent payments.
Wilson previously called on Mayor Garcetti and the City Council to expand vaccination requirements beyond city employees to city contractors or require twice a week COVID-19 testing for city employees and contractors. Wilson agrees with the City Council’s support for proof of vaccination in indoor public settings and for vaccination mandates for city employees once the FDA approves the vaccines.
