Santa Cruz County extends evictions protection

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV)-- Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved extending additional protections for tenants struggling because of the pandemic in unincorporated parts of the county.

This decision comes as the last day to apply for the CA COVID-19 Rent Relief program approaches. March 31 is the deadline to apply to receive financial help, if you're an eligible renter and landlord who's been impacted by COVID-19.

"There's no shortage of funding. So if people can get into the door by March 31st and start filling out that application," said Jason Hoppin, PIO for Santa Cruz County.

Once the deadline passes, the program will continue to operate until all completed applications are processed and all eligible people get their funding.

The county board authorized up to $500,00 for house-related community issues.

"What this five hundred thousand dollars will do is to help prevent evictions and situations that occur where the individual is working with the state through the housing program," said Raymon Cancino, C.E.O of Community Bridges. "Working with landlords to ensure that we find alternative solutions than unlawful detainers and eviction proceedings."

Part of the funding is meant to go towards legal defense and case management for renters.

"We know that a lot of our clients are not digitally savvy. They don't have the resources to hire their own attorney. We know that their outcomes are different when you have an attorney and represented legal support," said Cancino.

Some landlords said that they're glad to have the back up support.

"It's giving me relief that in case tenants do run into issues with payment of rent, employment, et cetera, that there is a safety net for us,"said Darius, a Santa Cruz landlord. "So that makes it easier that, you know, to accept nonpayment, slow payment, partial payment of rents."

Especially since the money is definitely needed.

"The rent relief program has actually been very helpful. I've received some funds for a couple of my tenants, and although it's not instantaneous," said Darius. "It does take a few months to get reimbursed but you will get reimbursed."

State officials have said that nearly 2.5 billion dollars has been given out for rental assistance. This has helped roughly 215,000 households in California so far.

According to county officials, only 23 cases were filed in as of February 2022.

The county officials also said local landlords who've participated have received in total $16 million in rent due to pandemic-related job or income losses with the average award being around $10,000.