SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria said Thursday that the city will make more than $42 million in emergency rental assistance available and he's asking city leaders to extend eviction protections for renters and businesses.
Mayor Gloria says that $42.3 million made available through the Consolidated Appropriations Act will provide assistance to cover unpaid rent and utilities for qualifying residents affected by the pandemic. Details will be released by the San Diego Housing Commission on how to apply for assistance.
"As long as San Diegans are suffering financially from this devastating pandemic, it’s the City’s obligation to do whatever it can to protect them," Gloria said. "Our top priority is to ensure that no one becomes homeless or loses their storefront because they’ve lost income or revenue due to the emergency shutdown orders. The federal funding we’ve received will provide a huge boost for both renters and landlords."
Gloria added that he will ask city leaders to extend bans on evictions of renters and business owners during their meeting on Tuesday. Through two emergency ordinances, he's proposing:
- Ban on eviction of renters affected by the pandemic to remain in effect until 60 days after the city's emergency declaration is lifted
- Ban on eviction of business owners affected by the pandemic through June 30, 2021, or 60 days after the city's emergency declaration is lifted, whichever comes first.
Residents and businesses would still be responsible for repaying unpaid rent or lease payments. Tenants and landlords are encouraged to work out repayment plans, and tenants must contact their landlords to qualify for protection.
"This eviction moratorium helps us avoid further spread of COVID-19 and gives some relief to renters and businesses in these extremely difficult times," said City Council President Jennifer Campbell. "I urge tenants and property owners to work together as we start on the path of vaccination and economic recovery."
Under the ordinances, residents cannot be evicted for unpaid rent due to financial hardship caused by the pandemic accrued since March 2020 and ending 60 days after the city's emergency declaration ends.
Any unpaid rent from this period that is not repaid will be converted to consumer debt. Businesses would have six months from the end of the commercial evication ban to make any outstanding payments.
Gloria says the two ordinances come as the protections for renters under AB 3088, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom last year, are set to expire on Jan. 31. Protections for businesses were not included in AB 3088.
