Fresno families hit by COVID-19 could receive $3,000 in aid for housing payments
The City of Fresno has launched a new program offering financial aid to help residents who've been affected by the coronavirus pandemic avoid losing their homes.
FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Governor Gavin Newsom has extended the eviction moratorium until September 30th.
This means that because of the pandemic, tenants cannot be put out if they are delinquent on rent for six months.
RELATED: Coronavirus: California extends state eviction moratorium through September
The City of Fresno has launched a new program offering financial aid to help residents who've been affected by the coronavirus pandemic avoid losing their homes.
Families can receive up to $3,000 through the grant program to help pay for housing-related expenses. Individuals may also apply for up to $1,500 in aid.
With this grant, Fresno City Council members are hoping to relieve some stress from residents who are backed up on rent and mortgage payments or have PG&E bills piling up.
The financial help will be given out on a first-come, first-served basis.
To help tenants and landlords as quickly as possible, the city is accepting rent relief applications starting Wednesday through six non-profits. Funds could be distributed as soon as next week.
Those who wish to apply for the Housing Retention grants must be "income eligible," officials said. For families, you must have a median family income of $61,700. You can see the break down of eligibility for the grants by clicking here.
The income limits for each household are as follows:
1 person: $39,150
2 people: $44,750
3 people: $50,350
4 people: $55,900
5 people: $60,400
6 people: $64,850
7 people: $69,350
8 people: $73,800
9 people: $78,300
10 people: $82,750
11 people: $87,250
12 people: $91,700
13 people: $96,150
14 people: $100,650
Fresno City Council members Miguel Arias, Esmeralda Soria and Luis Chavez proposed the allocation of $1.5 million of the city's funding from the federal CARES Act to be used for the program.
Interested applicants can contact the following organizations to apply:
Partner Organizations Reading and Beyond - 559-214-0317
The Fresno Center - 559-898-2565
Centro La Familia - 559-237-2961
Education & Leadership Foundation - 559-291-5428
Jakara Movement - 559-549-4088
West Fresno Family Resource Center - 559-621-2967
But tenants aren't the only ones feeling the pressure of the ongoing pandemic.
Debbie Bagdasarian owns Tower Properties. She owns and manages about 180 apartments and homes in central Fresno. Since the crisis began, she's received more bounced checks and tardy tenants than she can remember.
Bagdasarian is concerned with the governor's latest eviction extension that tenants who are already past due will never have the means to catch up come November 1.
"We have never seen anything like that and this is the first time the government has intervened, tying our hands," she said.
To help tenants and landlords as quickly as possible, the city is accepting rent relief applications starting Wednesday through six non-profits. Funds could be distributed as soon as next week.
