Using state and federal relief funding, Monterey County SB91 Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) will distribute $28 million of rent and utility assistance to low-income eligible households located in Monterey County that are facing housing instability due to direct or indirect financial impact from the COVID-19 crisis. This support is not a loan and eligible tenants receiving this rental and/or utility support are not required or expected to pay it back.

Who is Eligible?

To be eligible for the rental and utility support through the Monterey County ERAP, residents need to meet the following requirements and provide the needed documents:

• Tenants living within the County of Monterey, regardless of immigration status
• Tenants may have formal or informal lease arrangements
• At or below 80% Area Median Income of Monterey County

*Program will prioritize funding for very low-income tenants (at or below 50% AMI), as well as those who are at immediate risk of homelessness or have rental arrears

Tenants have suffered a COVID-19-related financial distress that caused them to be unable to pay their rent after April 1, 2020. A COVID-19-related financial distress can include any of the following:

• Loss of income caused by the pandemic
• Increased out-of-pocket expenses directly related to performing essential work during the pandemic
• Increased expenses directly related to the health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
• Childcare responsibilities or responsibilities to care for an elderly, disabled, or sick family member directly related to the COVID-19 pandemic that limits the tenant’s ability to earn income or increased costs of these responsibilities
• Other circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic that have reduced a tenant’s income or increased a tenant’s expenses