Rent assistance programs are helping thousands of families keep a roof over their heads. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people struggled to find traditional jobs. Instead, some turned to side jobs to make money. One couple worked hard by gathering aluminum cans, washing carpets, detailing cars, and even doing laundry for others. Although they tried everything they could to earn a living, their income varied from month to month, sometimes being enough, but often falling short. This couple, with five children, faced many challenges just to pay their rent but found support through a rent assistance program designed to help struggling families stay in their homes.
Struggling to Pay Rent: How a Rent Assistance Program is Helping Families Stay Housed
After months of hard work, the family still fell behind on rent. By summer, they owed about $12,000 and were at risk of being evicted for the second time in five years. The threat of losing their home hung over them, but they were able to stay put with the help of a special program. This program, run by a local charity, provides support to families who are at risk of losing their homes.
How the Program Helps
The charity’s rent assistance program works with a team of 40 caseworkers and 12 lawyers to assist struggling renters. These caseworkers help tenants apply for benefits from federal, state, and local governments. The benefits they receive go directly toward paying rent, while lawyers represent them in court if their landlord attempts to evict them.
In the wider area, more than 75,000 people live without homes, most of them sleeping outside. Thanks to this program, over 23,000 households have been saved from homelessness in the past year alone.
A Christmas to Look Forward To
For the family, staying in their home means more than just having a roof over their heads. They now look forward to the holidays, with hopes of celebrating Christmas with a tree and inviting family members over for dinner. It’s a special moment they haven’t been able to enjoy in years.
A New Way to Fight Eviction Through a Rent Assistance Program
The rent assistance program began focusing on preventing evictions in 2023. It uses a new approach where caseworkers reach out to tenants before they even know they’re at risk. The names of tenants who are about to be evicted are given to social workers, who then contact them directly. This reverse method allows caseworkers to find and help people faster, compared to waiting for tenants to seek help on their own.
Although the program is called the Mayor’s Fund for Los Angeles, it operates separately from the mayor’s office. The fund, which has a $7.5 million budget, was initially created to improve city services but now focuses on housing issues. Many people who face eviction are unaware of the financial help available to them, and this program helps connect them with these resources.
In the end, the goal is simple: to help struggling families stay in their homes and prevent them from becoming homeless, offering them a fresh start and hope for the future.
