State of Denial: Nearly a Third of Applicants to California’s Emergency Rent Relief Program Have Been Denied Assistance

As of July 22, 2022

Newly obtained data on the basis for denials indicates that most denials have been for reasons tenant advocates cite as problematic. As of July 13, more than 45,000 renters were still waiting for their applications to be reviewed. Urgent policy fixes are needed to deliver on the program’s promise and ensure a "fair process" for delivering rental assistance to eligible tenants.

HCD should audit all rental assistance denials and ensure a fair process for appealing denials

The fact that the vast majority of tenants who have been denied ERAP are low-income and lost access to funds they needed to keep their homes based on vague notices citing “inconsistent information” or claiming they were “non-responsive” raises serious concerns about the integrity of the application review process.

Let's get together in numbers and force our State representatives to do the right thing and help expedite the process.