Maintaining tenant protections under County's Emergency Rental Assistance Program requires action by March 31, 2022 | NorthBay biz
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Maintaining tenant protections under County’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program requires action by March 31, 2022

Sonoma County Seal

If you are a Sonoma County resident who has experienced family or individual income loss due to COVID-19 that has resulted in your inability to pay rent, the Emergency Rental Assistance Program exists to give you limited protection against eviction for non-payment of rent. However, this program and its limited protection against eviction for non-payment of rent are ending soon.

To date, more than $27 million in state and federal rent relief funds have been distributed to Sonoma county families, individuals, and landlords through the ERAP system. More than 5,000 applications have been funded or approved for funding.

Residents must have an application on file with the County’s portal (see link below) on or before March 31, 2022, to take advantage of possible extensions of eviction protections currently being considered by the state. While currently, new applications are wait-listed as the County identifies more state or federal funds that could assist newer applicants, applicants are encouraged to sign up for the waitlist now for a possible extension of eviction protections.

This is not legal advice. If a Sonoma County resident believes that they are being unjustly evicted for non-payment of rent due to COVID-19 impacts, and they have an application pending for rental assistance, they should contact an attorney, Legal Aid of Sonoma County (707-543-1290) or California Rural Legal Assistance (707-528-9941).

To access the wait[list portal, please visit SoCoEmergency.org/ERAP. If applicants have difficulties getting on the system, they should keep trying after waiting an hour or so.

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