At its June 23 meeting, the Irvine City Council reconfirmed the two-tier rental assistance and lease cancellation assistance program approved at the last meeting. The entire $2 million program will now be funded by the one-time federal CARES Act dollars expected to be appropriated by the State to cities within days. The City Council also authorized the program to be available to students listed as dependents on their parents’ tax returns, as well as to multiple renters residing at same address.

It is estimated that through the program the City will be able to assist approximately 2,000 individuals in the community that can demonstrate a sufficient COVID-19-related financial hardship. The assistance (up to $1,000 for either lease cancellation or monthly rent) would be paid directly to landlords on behalf of eligible renters.

The program will be open for applications in the coming days once the state approves funding. The City will continue to monitor the State’s action and provide program updates at that time.