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COVID-19 Updates: Surge Continues, Testing Appointments Fill, Renter Assistance Begins

As the current surge in COVID-19 cases continues across both the city and state, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and LA County health officials have issued some important updates in local policies and programs.

In his daily press briefing yesterday, Garcetti said that the city’s COVID-19 “threat level” is still at orange (“High Risk – Minimize All Contact”), and that if it rises to red, it’s likely the city will return to a mandatory stay at home order and renewed closures of many businesses.

Also, Garcetti reported that all city-sponsored testing appointments are full for at least the next week or so, and that – to help keep testing available for those who need it most – people should not get tested right now unless they have symptoms of COVID-19, if they work in critical jobs (such as caregivers), and/or unless they have been in direct contact with someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19.

And finally, Garcetti reminded people that even if they do test negative, it’s “not a passport to party,” and that everyone should still stay home as much as possible, wear face coverings when out of the house, and maintain social distance at all times.

Also yesterday, city officials announced that applications for the city’s new Emergency Renters Assistance Program will be open from 8 a.m. on Monday, July 13 through 11:59 p.m. on Friday, July 17.

According to the program’s website, it “will provide a temporary rent subsidy for eligible residential tenants in the City of Los Angeles who are unable to pay rent due to circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

More specifically:

  • The subsidy will provide a grant of up to $1,000 per month to cover the monthly lease rent (based on the rent paid as of March 1, 2020), with a maximum of $2,000 per household.
  • The rent subsidy will be paid directly to the tenant’s landlord on the tenant’s behalf.

The assistance will be available to renters of multifamily rental housing who meet the following criteria:

  1. Residents of the City of Los Angeles, regardless of immigration status.
  2. Households that can provide proof of tenancy.
  3. Households with annual income at or below 80% of Area Median Income (AMI) level prior to the COVID-19 crisis, according to this scale:

4. And households that can provide documentation of loss or reduction of income due to COVID-19 after March 13, 2020.

For more information (for both tenants and landlords), as well a detailed FAQ about the program and applying for assistance, see https://hcidla.lacity.org/

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Elizabeth Fuller
Elizabeth Fuller
Elizabeth Fuller was born and raised in Minneapolis, MN but has lived in LA since 1991 - with deep roots in both the Sycamore Square and West Adams Heights-Sugar Hill neighborhoods. She spent 10 years with the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council, volunteers at Wilshire Crest Elementary School, and has been writing for the Buzz since 2015.

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