Costa Mesa residents will soon see stronger tenant protections that could help people being evicted at no fault of their own and those facing imminent eviction.
Last week, city council members voted unanimously to expand the eviction protection program – including paying up to six months in rent assistance and up to $10,000 to cover back rent by freeing up tax money initially allocated to Serving People in Need (SPIN) and Families Forward to help people move.
So far, only four households have received relocation assistance from the two nonprofits for being evicted by no fault of their own – also known as no-fault evictions – leaving those two nonprofits with roughly $293,000.
The changes come as the city’s original rental assistance program is slated to run out of money.
“We’ve done a lot of work as a council to get people to raise their hand when they’re struggling and help us understand what their needs are so we can allocate those services,” Councilwoman Arlis Reynolds said at Tuesday’s city council meeting. “What happens when the 61 family comes to Mercy House?”
A city staff report shows Mercy House – a nonprofit homeless services and prevention provider – has helped 278 people with rental assistance and currently has 35 households enrolled in the program.
But, staff note “they have received requests from over 60 households, which their remaining balance of funds is unable to support,” adding Mercy House stopped taking applications.
Between March and September this year, 11 no-fault eviction notices were issued, but seven weren’t approved due to being deemed an at-fault eviction for things like not paying rent on time.
Of the two notifications received from property owners, 10 households were evicted with only four asking for moving cost assistance, according to a staff report.
A recently adopted ordinance in the city requires landlords to provide the city with notification of tenant evictions within three days, and help with moving costs if it’s a no fault eviction.
Last November, city council members allocated $300,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds to allow those being evicted at no fault to receive funds of up to $500 for moving costs like dumpsters or moving vans. According to a staff report, so far only $7,000 has been expended.
Mercy House received just over $2 million in a mix of federal funding from June 2022 to June 2024.
With the newly allocated funds, SPIN and Families Forward anticipate being able to help 15 to 25 more families.
For households to qualify, families can only be approved by referral from a Costa Mesa community outreach worker. They also must be in the very low-income category and facing imminent risk of eviction.
In Orange County, a four-person household making less than $78,900 is considered very low income, according to limits from the California Department of Housing and Community Development.
Meanwhile, it’s unknown what will happen when the renter protection funds run out.
At last week’s meeting, City Manager Lori Ann Farrell Harrison said there’s no immediate plans to address the issue.
Councilman Jeffrey Harlan said they need a plan before money runs out.
“I think this is the right move in reallocating funds. Before the funds are expended, we have to have some sort of discussion collaborating with SPIN and Mercy House on how to come up with a strategy.”
Gigi Gradillas is a Voice of OC Tracy Wood Reporting Fellow. Contact her at gigi.gradillas@gmail.com or on Twitter @gigigradillas.
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