CHC is closely monitoring the state and federal response to COVID-19—and we are working with our members to preserve and protect access to affordable housing. We have sent already sent letters to the Administration and Treasurer requesting necessary relief for affordable housing providers.

California situation:

• One million Californians have filed for unemployment as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, while national numbers have risen to 3.3 million—with financial impacts for renters, homeowners, and affordable housing providers expected to grow.
• Governor Newsom said this week he expects the state’s shelter-in-place orders to last as long as May or June: “We are looking at the next eight weeks, on our curve, maybe the next eight to 12 weeks, to address this surge.”

Federal action:

• A $2 trillion relief package was approved by Congress this week, with $150 billion in aid for state and local governments and $12.4 billion in funding for HUD programs, including:
  • Tenant Based Rental Assistance — $1.25 billion
  • Public Housing Operating Fund — $685 million
  • Housing Opportunity for Persons with AIDS — $65 million
  • Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) — $ 5 billion
  • Homeless Assistant Grants — $4 billion
  • Project Based Rental Assistance — $1 billion
  • Housing for the Elderly — $ 50 million
  • Housing for Persons with Disabilities — $15 million
• The package also included forbearance on foreclosures and mortgage loan payments for federally-backed affordable housing and eviction protections for those residents.
• CHC has highlighted these provisions as models for the next phase of state action.
• California state and local governments could receive more than $10 billion for just the state block grant portion of the stimulus, Governor Newsom said this week.
• House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is pushing for another federal stimulus bill that would expand paid leave, increase food aid, and fund coronavirus treatment. CHC, along with our federal partners, are continuing to push for provisions that protect affordable housing.

State action:

• Governor Newsom today issued an executive order providing some eviction relief for renters affected by COVID-19 through May 31, 2020. The order prohibits landlords from evicting tenants for nonpayment of rent due to COVID-19 during this period and prohibits enforcement of evictions by law enforcement or courts, but does not go as far as many local ordinances that provide broader tenant protections. Governor Newsom’s previous executive order authorized local governments to halt evictions for renters impacted by the pandemic.
• Residential homeowners impacted by COVID-19 can seek forbearance on foreclosures and mortgage loan payments for the next 90 days, Governor Newsom announced this week. The Governor said he is also working with more than 200 banks and credit unions to identify additional aid to help small businesses and nonprofits: “The job is not done,” he said.