A small number of families who earn a low income in San Mateo County can get either eviction prevention assistance and/or housing services. This program is designed to help those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless by providing resources and assistance to help them find and keep permanent housing. This program also works to prevent evictions from happening by providing resources and support to those who are struggling to keep their homes.
Continuum of Care agencies work together to support vulnerable families using grants and support from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The housing first programs in San Mateo County can help people with different types of needs, such as a short-term reduction in income, being a veteran or single mother, or being chronically homeless.
Programs to stop an eviction
The community will always try to stop an eviction from occurring in the first place. The goal of any programs available is to help people improve their lives, but it is not always possible to do this. Using the tools below, tenants may be able to get assistance with things such as rent, bills, and food.
This means that if you are behind on your rent, you may be able to get a grant from the government to help pay what you owe. Housing and Urban Development funds, as well as extra money raised from fundraisers organized by the United Way, may be able to help clients pay for their current home or apartment.
The money will be used to pay for some of what the landlord is asking for. If the tenant is being evicted because they haven’t paid their utility bills, the HUD grant can help with that cost. Whenever a tenant has been approved for a grant, only a small portion of the expense will be paid by a San Mateo County agency. The organization will ask the client for a monetary contribution as well, which indicates their willingness and capability to help themselves.
The county will explore other solutions to prevent the eviction if it is caused by other challenges, such as a legal issue or landlord/tenant dispute. Housing specialists from different non-profit organizations will meet with the person in these cases. If it is decided that another approach, such as general housing, budgeting workshops, or referrals to pro-bono law firms in the area, would be more effective, then this will be arranged.
There may be times when it is not possible to stop an eviction from happening. The tenant could be behind on their bills or the home could be too expensive for them. This is often the case because the cost of rent and overall living is very high in the region. A stretch of unemployment or someone living beyond their means may cause problems that result in homelessness. In these cases, rehousing is reviewed as the next step. For more information on that process, see the section below.
Rehousing services in San Mateo County
The county is working with the Department of Housing and Urban Development to help residents find and move into new homes faster. The goal is to keep the family from becoming homeless and instead provide them with a safe place to live while they work towards finding a permanent home. The Continuum of Care provides assistance to both those who are chronically homeless and those who have recently been evicted.
The rehousing process will move a homeless family into a different housing situation for a period of time, and there are units in cities such as Daly City. While living there, they will develop the skills, earn money, and save money for future housing costs. They will also work with counselors from various San Mateo County agencies to help them become self-sufficient and prevent future evictions.
The next step of the process is to provide the tenant with financial assistance. This funding will only be given if the goals of the transitional housing are met, such as income targets. The government may give money to help a family pay for a security deposit or to help them move. The goal is to help the family move into a permanent and affordable house. It can be difficult to find an affordable place to live in Redwood City, California because housing is expensive in that area.
For more information on these services, or referrals, call 650-685-5880. Families who qualify for income-based assistance will be connected with the resources they need.