Resources for Homeowners, Renters and Landlords
COVID-19 Edition
About the guide: This guide was created to address the needs of homeowners, renters and landlords in the City of Long Beach during the coronavirus pandemic. The following information and resources are also intended to guide organizations who work with homeowners, renters and landlords in the city.
Follow us: Follow the City of Long Beach on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, where we will continue sharing information and resources, and on the City’s COVID-19 web page.
Donate: If you can, please consider making a donation:
- Coronavirus Relief Fund: Managed by the Long Beach Community Foundation in partnership with the City of Long Beach, this fund will support community-based organizations at the frontlines of the coronavirus response in the Long Beach area, including organizations that assist immigrant families.
Table of Contents
Department of Development Services
Long Beach Emergency Rental Assistance Program
Update to Tenant Assistance Policies
Department of Economic Development
Department of Energy Resources
Department of Health & Human Services
Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine
California Apartment Association
Emergency Rental Assistance Program
Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA)
Federal Housing Finance Agency
United States Department of Housing and Urban Development
United States Department of Labor
United States Interagency Council on Homelessness
City Services
City of Long Beach’s Comprehensive Rental Relief Package
On March 25, 2020, the Long Beach City Council unanimously approved a comprehensive rental relief package to help those impacted by COVID-19.
Department of Development Services
Long Beach Emergency Rental Assistance Program
- The Long Beach Emergency Rental Assistance Program (LB-ERAP) is designed to assist landlords and income-eligible tenants (renters) who have experienced financial loss or hardship due to COVID-19 through rental assistance.
- LB-ERAP was established to provide assistance exclusively to landlords and tenants in Long Beach and is separate from the State’s rental assistance program. Applicants should not apply to the State program if the unit for which they are seeking assistance for is located in the city.
- LB-ERAP will help income-eligible tenants pay rent and utilities, both for past due bills and future payments. The program will prioritize assisting lower-income tenants who have been unemployed for 90 days or more and who are at risk of housing instability.
- All program materials, including program eligibility, can be accessed online at longbeach.gov/rentalassistance.
- The Long Beach City Council, in a unanimous vote, authorized staff to request its reserved Block Grant from the State, combine it with the Federal Allocation and create a locally-administered Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) that conforms to State ERAP rules.
Evictions Suspension
- The City of Long Beach has suspended evictions for residential and commercial tenants.
- Eligibility Requirements:
- Residential tenant must live in Long Beach; and commercial property must be located within the city.
- Tenant must be unable to pay rent between March 4 and July31, 2020, due to a substantial decrease of income or increase of medical costs caused by COVID-19.
- After May 31, 2020, the following commercial tenancies which previously delayed rent must repay the entirety of such rent on or before November 30, 2020:
- Tenants and sub-tenants which are multi-national companies, publicly-traded companies or which have more than five hundred (500) employees
- Tenancies and sub-tenancies managed by the Airport
- Tenancies and sub-tenancies managed by the Harbor Department
- Tenancies and sub-tenancies within the Tidelands area..
- Tenant must send the landlord proper documentation including notice that rent will not be paid on time, and documentation of substantial income losses caused by job layoff or out-of-pocket medical expenses.
- Protected tenants have until July 31, 2021, to pay all delayed rent to their landlords without incurring late charges.
- Additional information from Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles.
Update to Tenant Assistance Policies
Department of Economic Development
Business and Worker Resources
- City of Long Beach Business and Worker Resource Guide
- For COVID-19 business and worker-related support, contact the Business Hotline and Call Center, 562-570-4BIZ (4249), Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. City staff will respond to voicemails made after business hours within 24 hours.
Department of Energy Resources
Assistance with Utilities
- Energy Resources has temporarily suspended natural gas disconnections until further notice. No customer will have their natural gas turned off due to non-payment. More information is available at www.longbeach.gov/energyresources.
Department of Health & Human Services
Housing Assistance Payments
- Terminations of Housing Assistance payments have been suspended through May 31, ensuring recipients are able to comply with the Safer at Home Order.
- For more information, visit the Housing Authority of Long Beach at longbeach.gov/haclb.
Homeless Services
- All City facilities and services for people experiencing homelessness, including the Winter Shelter, the Multi-Service Center and Safe Parking Program, remain open.
- The Multi-Service Center is now also open all day, without closing for an hour at lunch, to better serve the unsheltered residents of Long Beach. Pet-friendly services are available at the Multi-Service Center.
- Winter Shelter operations are extended through September 30 for people experiencing homelessness. The temporary shelter was initially scheduled to close April 1.
- To learn more, see the press release Measures to Protect People Experiencing Homelessness and visit the Health Department’s Homeless Services webpage.
Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine
Animal Care Services
- The City’s Animal Care Services page has information and resources for pet owners, including a link to the Rehome website, which offers assistance to those who need to rehome their pets during this time due to finances, moving, or other circumstances, and for those experiencing homelessness.
Long Beach Water Department
Assistance with Utilities
- To aid residents and businesses financially during this difficult time, Long Beach Water is temporarily suspending water shutoffs for nonpayment, and the city will be suspending penalties and interest for late payments of utilities. More information is available on the Long Beach Water’s Updates and COVID-19 Response page.
Local Resources
California Apartment Association
County of Los Angeles
COVID-19 Resources
Emergency Rental Assistance Program
- The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors authorized the Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA) to utilize Community Development Block Grant Program coronavirus (CDBG-CV) response funds to create and administer the COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance (COVID-19-ERA) Program.
- The County Board of Supervisors created the COVID-19-ERA Program with CDBG-CV funding to provide emergency rental assistance grants to income-eligible households economically impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic through job loss, furlough, or reduction in hours or pay.
- Emergency rental assistance grants are rental payments made on behalf of an income-eligible household, up to $1,000 per month, for three months to maintain housing and/or to reduce rental payment delinquency in arrears.
- For more information on the COVID-19-ERA Program, please contact 2-1-1 L.A or visit 211la.org/covid-rental-help. To be considered for this program, applications must be received by May 31, 2020.
- Additional resources for residents can be found at lacda.org.
Fair Housing Foundation
- 3605 Long Beach Blvd., Ste. 302, Long Beach, CA 90807
- (562) 989-1206 or (800) 466-3247
- fairhousingfoundation.com
Housing Long Beach
Hunger Action LA
Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA)
COVID-19 Response and Resources:
- Eviction Defense / Housing (Organized by Area / City)
- Tenant Protections - Frequently Asked Questions (Organized by Area / City)
- Government Benefits
- Commercial Tenants
- longbeach.gov/haclb/news/fair-housing-visiting-the-haclb/
- For more information, call Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles at (800) 399-4529.
Federal Resources
Federal Housing Finance Agency
- FHFA is closely monitoring the coronavirus national emergency’s effect on the housing finance market and continues to update policies and guidance to ensure its regulated entities.
- They have gathered resources and information, including the latest actions by FHFA, that provide guidance for lenders, servicers and others who directly assist homeowners and renters adversely impacted by COVID-19.
- View COVID-19 Information and Resources for homeowners and renters.
United States Department of Housing and Urban Development
- The Department of Housing and Urban Development is the Federal agency responsible for national policy and programs that address America's housing needs, that improve and develop the Nation's communities, and enforce fair housing laws. HUD's business is helping create a decent home and suitable living environment for all Americans, and it has given America's communities a strong national voice at the Cabinet level. HUD plays a major role in supporting homeownership by underwriting homeownership for lower- and moderate-income families through its mortgage insurance programs.
- HUD has established a list of COVID-19 resources including specific information on:
- Homeless Programs
- Public Housing Agencies
- Multifamily Property Owners
- Homeowners and Renters
- Native Americans
- FHA Lenders and Office of Housing Program Participants
- Grantees
- HOPWA Programs
United States Department of Labor
- Eligible applicants may request funding for Disaster Recovery Dislocated Worker Grants.
United States Interagency Council on Homelessness
- A comprehensive list of many COVID-19 Funding, Flexibilities, and Waivers opportunities offered by the United States Government including specific information on FEMA Public Assistance, Housing and Urban Development, Disaster Recovery Dislocated Worker Grants, and much more.
Last updated 4/13/2021