ANAHEIM : Emergency Funds for Some Renters
Hoping to prevent further homelessness, city officials say emergency funds will soon be available for a new housing assistance program to help residents unable to make rent payments.
The money will be available to renters suddenly caught in an economic bind and facing eviction.
About $265,000 will be set aside for the program through next year.
The program, called “Homeless Prevention,” also offers to help working homeless who may be living in temporary homes to move into permanent housing by providing the deposits for apartment rentals. The amounts awarded will vary according to the circumstances, said Nan Huff, housing coordinator for the city Housing Authority.
City and county social service agencies will screen the applicants and conduct quarterly progress checks on them. Money will be given to landlords rather than to residents.
The program is limited to renters whose income is less than 50% of the county median income. For a family of four, that would mean an annual income of $24,550 or less, and for a single resident, $17,000 or less. The program, which is scheduled to begin in about three weeks, is funded by redevelopment taxes earmarked for housing assistance.
