Processing delays and the fact that many on the coast pay their rent under the table have plagued a state program that has only doled out a fraction of the $70 million set aside to help San Mateo County residents pay their rent in the midst of a devastating pandemic.
After the coronavirus pandemic shut down industries statewide last year, California instituted a ban on evictions to help renters newly out of work. The ban is set to expire June 30, when some residents will owe more than a yearâs worth of rent or face eviction. The stateâs newly launched Housing Is Key program is designed to get Californians out of rental debt and make up for lost landlord income to keep people housed, but less than 1 percent of that money is in the hands of local renters.