By Kathy Chouteau Are you a landlord or tenant impacted by COVID-19? If so, help is here in the form of a COVID-19 Rent Relief Program that will be accepting applications at or shortly after 5 p.m. today. The program is administered by Contra Costa County, which received $75 million as part of federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program funds from the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. A total of $2.6 billion was allocated for Californians in need of rental relief. “This funding for COVID-19 relief cannot come any sooner to help provide the hardest hit individuals and families in Contra Costa with financial assistance with rent and utilities payments and help them gain back financial and housing stability,” said Board Chair, Supervisor Diane Burgis. “My colleagues on the board and I remain committed to helping residents get back on their feet, especially now that we have safe, effective vaccines that will help end this pandemic.”