Housing

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Monterey created and implemented the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) with the objective of mitigating potential homelessness and displacement of Monterey residents and workers who are experiencing a decrease in household income, and thus, unable to pay their rent.

The purpose of this amendment is to update the guidelines for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program in order to ensure that the program is operated in compliance with Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and CARES Act regulations. The amendments to the guidelines are as follows:

• Clirify that the City can provide a maximum of six (6) consecutive months of rental assistance.
• Include the requirement that if a household receives more than 3 months of assistance, they must undergo a visual lead-based paint assessment as per the Lead Safe Housing Rule (LSHR) requirements. If a determination is made that there may be lead-based paint or asbestos present, testing and remediation will be required.
• Allow for late fees and other such costs to be covered by the program in addition to rent.
• Update the income limits annually upon HUD’s release.

Any questions about the Substantial Amendment should be directed to Grant Leonard at (831) 646-3995 or email: housing@monterey.org

Draft Substantial Amendment

The City is pleased to announce the availablity of the Draft 2021-22 Annual Action Plan for the Community Development Block Grant Program. The plan is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in order for the City to obtain federal Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) and other affordable housing funds. The City will adopt the 2021/22 Action Plan to establish the housing and community development strategies, priorities and budget for the next Fiscal Year that begins on July 1, 2021. 

The City of Monterey Planning Commission will hold a public hearing at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, March 23, 2021 to consider a recommendation to the City Council for adoption of the City’s Draft 2021/22 Annual Action Plan. The City Council will hold a second public hearing April 20, 2021 to consider adoption. Both public hearings will be held on ZOOM.  

Any questions about the Annual Action Plan should be directed to Grant Leonard at (831) 646-3995 or email: housing@monterey.org

Draft Annual Action Plan

The City of Monterey has announced that its Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) has expended all of the City’s available rental assistance funding. In total, the City’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program has issued 405 checks totalling $962,287.32 to help 162 households since it’s start in August 2020. The program is designed to reduce homelessness and displacement of existing Monterey residents and workers who are or were employed by a Monterey business and are experiencing a decrease in household income due to the COVID-19 pandemic and cannot pay their rent. Monterey County has received $26.7 million in federal funding for rental assistance through the latest stimulus act. The County tasked United Way Monterey County to develop a mechanism for distribution of these funds. The City hopes that the County will allocate some of the funding to the City’s successful rental assistance program. FULL NEWS RELEASE IN PDF