By Mary O’KEEFE

CVW was contacted by readers who were concerned about the Los Angeles County Rent Relief Program. The concerns were based on communication issues between those who applied for the rent lottery and the County.

The Rent Relief Program is administered by the Los Angeles County Development Authority. Those in need of assistance applied and were chosen in a lottery type of system. In some cases those who applied and were chosen in the lottery were found to be not eligible; then the next in line would be contacted.

According to Linda Jenkins, acting director Community and Economic Development Division, LA County Development Authority, the federal government stipulated the funds for this relief program were to be spent by Dec. 30. If the agency had questions about applicants’ eligibility after pulling their name this month there was very little time to make contact to determine eligibility verification.

“With the CARES Act funding we did not have the flexibility to go beyond the Dec. 30 date,” Jenkins said.

Much was waiting on the decision from Washington as to whether the additional $900 billion funds for the stimulus package [CARES Act] would be passed and how deadlines, including those for the Rent Relief Program, which was tied to this bill, would be affected.

The relief stimulus was approved on Dec. 21 by Congress and the Senate but then was in limbo until President Donald Trump signed it several days later.

“I would like to say we can turn on a dime when things happen,” Jenkins said, but she explained that her agency must wait for a vote from the board of supervisors before any extensions or changes to the program can be made.

She did understand the need for extensions, though. For example, the CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] extended its moratorium on evictions to Jan. 31.

“We are in a pandemic,” she added. “This is not the time for increasing rent or evictions.”

She said she understands the frustration felt by families as they apply to these programs for help.

“Our goal was to assist 8,000 to 9,000 people [with rent]. It has been difficult to serve people,” she added.

Her office has been working on this complicated program. It has at times been difficult to get hold of those who applied for assistance but do not seem to qualify; some who do not qualify might be because they live within the city of Los Angeles, which offers its own program. Applicants also have to prove they have been directly impacted by COVID-19, and they have to have landlords participate in the program.

Her advice to those who are concerned, or confused, about their application is to call her office and also to watch this Tuesday’s meeting of the LA County Board of Supervisors as they will be dealing with this issue directly.

LA County Development Authority contact phone number is (626) 262-4511. To find the agenda and view the Tuesday board of supervisors meeting go to bos.lacounty.gov.