Monterey County Board of Supervisors approve rental assistance program
MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) -- UPDATE ON APRIL 25, 2023 AT 5:34 PM- The Monterey County Board of Supervisors have approved a rental assistance program for low income people impacted by flooding in multiple parts of the county.
The program will help those who otherwise were not eligible for FEMA benefits. The supervisors says the benefit amounts to about $750 but for those who qualify as low income residents.
It is a one-time benefit that preserves funding for the COVID Funeral and Burial Program. The program initially could have seen funding lost from this rental assistance benefit measure.
Despite the program being approved, County supervisors said there is still some details to iron out with the application process.
Catholic Charites and United Way will help with the application process. The County will provide info on when it officially starts as soon as that info is available.
Monterey County Board of Supervisors looking to approve farmworker rental assistance program
UPDATE ON APRIL 23, 2023 AT 5:36 PM- A proposed low-income rental assistance program for people that were impacted by the winter storms will be on the agenda for the Monterey County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday.
County supervisors were trying to approve the program during the April 18 Board of Supervisors program but the vote was delayed because supervisors wanted to gather more information for this week's presentation.
County supervisors did bring an idea of using some of the money from the COVID Funeral Assistance program that still has funding leftover.
According to the County, the funeral assistance program is rarely being used. If approved, the rental assistance would help all storm victims but especially those who were affected in Pajaro and San Ardo.
The county will weigh their options to bring funding to various agencies that will help with the rental assistance program along with taking some of those funds from the county's Funeral and Burial Program.
The meeting will take place on Tuesday morning starting at 9 a.m. You can either attend the meeting in person at the Monterey County Board of Supervisors Chambers on 168 West Alisal Street, or particpate via Zoom which is here.
Farmworker rental assistance programs to be further discussed at Monterey County Board of Supervisors meeting
UPDATE ON MARCH 21, 2023 AT 5:06 PM- The Monterey County Board of Supervisors have unanimously approved staff recommendation for further discussion of providing rental assistance to farmworkers impacted by recent storms including those in the town in Pajaro.
The Board will also be hearing a report of a proposed pilot program that would allow a community based organization to administer a pilot program that would provide 100 qualifying farmworkers with an $800 rental assistance payment to their landlord.
The Board of Supervisors is expected to bring back the item during a Board Meeting on April 11th.
ORIGINAL STORY
Tuesday's Monterey County Board of Supervisors meeting is expected to bring up the topic of providing rental assistance to farmworkers impacted by recent storms, including those in the town of Pajaro.
Two recommendations are being made on the topic, including the planning and potential implementation of a Storm Recovery Rent Subsidy program and a recommendation to provide direction for implementing a rental assistance program for farmworkers.
The subsidy program is listed as being for those farmworkers "negatively impacted by the recent weather disaster events" while the rental assistance program is noted as being for farmworkers "affected by the winter storms."
According to a report from the county, the initial recommendation would authorize a community-based organization to administer a pilot program providing 100 qualifying farmworkers with an $800 rental assistance payment to their landlord.
A proposed pilot program is being recommended that would allow a community-based organization to put together a program to provide 300 qualifying farmworkers with a $600 cash assistance payment in the form of a gift card to help with "nontraditional housing arrangements or other needs."
The county says a "priority point system" is being developed that would determine who gets the help first.
"The pilot program will run for 90 days or till the funds are exhausted, whichever comes first," according to the board report.
According to the report, the Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Monterey helped at the Local Assister Center after the very first set of storms to start the new year and received at least 2,000 requests for services.
The majority of the people seeking help identified as working in the agricultural industry.
The report goes on to say 82% of people in this group had reduced income as a result of the storms. Of those requesting help about 48% sought rental assistance, 28% needed help with food while 6% looked to get help with paying off utilities.
This includes people who suffered storm damage in Salinas, Greenfield, Soledad, Gonzales, Chualar, King City, Pajaro, Royal Oaks, Las Lomas, Prunedale, San Ardo and San Miguel.
The proposed amount for the direct rent and cash assistance in the pilot program is $320,000 while administering that program will potentially cost $80,000.
The Storm Recovery Rent Subsidy Program for Farmworkers could potentially cost $340,000.
Additional reporting on these programs, if the recommendations are approved as they're currently written, would be provided at a future board meeting.
To read the proposal in its entirety, click here.
To donate click here.
