Attachment 3 Page 1 of 5
Attachment 3: Program Proposal – Temporary Rental Assistance Program
Overview
The proposed Temporary Rental Assistance Program would provide targeted, high- dollar rental subsidies to highly vulnerable renter households experiencing significant financial hardship. This program is designed as a short-term intervention to stabilize households facing acute challenges, such as loss of income, unexpected medical expenses, or other hardships, that have created significant challenges in meeting their rental obligations.
This program would focus on a small number of households to allow staff to provide personalized, hands-on support and ensure that the financial assistance is impactful enough to make households current on rent or prevent eviction. The program is intended as a pilot project, allowing staff and City Council (Council) to assess its effectiveness before considering expansion.
Program Goals
Based on Council’s interest in supporting the most vulnerable residents, the Temporary Rental Assistance Program is designed to:
Prevent eviction or displacement by covering overdue rent or upcoming rental payments.
Stabilize households that have experienced a verified financial hardship. Provide a meaningful level of assistance (e.g., $1,000 to $3,000/month) to bridge significant gaps rather than provide minimal support. Pilot a targeted, high-touch approach, with staff working directly with recipients to connect them to additional resources (financial counseling, long- term housing stability programs).
Target Population
Unlike LIFERAP, which serves working families over an extended 12-month period, the Temporary Rental Assistance Program is designed to be more flexible and responsive to urgent housing needs. The program would prioritize low-income renter households in Glendale who are at immediate risk of eviction or displacement due to unforeseen financial hardship.
Eligibility can be tailored to meet Council’s priorities. While the program may initially focus on households with an active eviction case or rental arrears, Council can expand Attachment 3 Page 2 of 5
or refine eligibility to target specific groups, such as seniors, persons with disabilities, families with children, or other vulnerable populations. Requirements such as proof of eviction filing, landlord notices, or hardship documentation can be included to ensure that the program is reaching those most in need.
Within this requirement, the program can prioritize:
Seniors (62+) with no existing rental assistance
Low-income families, particularly those with children or dependents Households classified as Very Low or Extremely Low Income per HUD standards Households not receiving Section 8 or living in deed-restricted affordable housing Council can adjust eligibility to prioritize certain groups, such as families with disabled children, single-parent households, or seniors with medical needs.
This flexibility makes the program highly adaptable and capable of addressing acute situations without duplicating LIFERAP’s longer-term, workforce-focused model.
Program Design
This program is intended as a short-term, emergency intervention. Key features include:
Purpose: Designed to prevent immediate eviction by covering back rent, upcoming rent, or both—depending on need and available funding. Benefit Model: Subsidy amounts may be fixed or adjustable depending on household income, arrears owed, or time needed to secure stability. Council may also opt for a flat-rate benefit (e.g., $2,000 one-time) or tiered levels based on need.
Documentation: Participants may be required to provide proof of financial hardship, eviction notice, or a rent demand letter. Staff may coordinate directly with landlords to negotiate payment arrangements and mediate disputes. Use Cases: The program could be deployed for crisis situations—buying tenants time to avoid eviction, resolve legal disputes, or transition to other housing options or long-term assistance programs.
Duration: While ongoing monthly assistance is limited to a 6-month period under LACAHSA guidelines, one-time or lump-sum payments toward back rent are not subject to that limitation. The program can be used to pay substantial unpaid rent balances to prevent eviction, cover up to 6 months of forward rent, or a combination of both, depending on household need and risk of housing loss.
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Cost and Scale
Costs for the Temporary Rental Assistance Program will vary depending on whether the subsidy is a set monthly amount (e.g., $1,000–$3,000 per household) or a flexible amount tailored to the tenant’s actual rent or amount owed.
For example:
A set monthly subsidy of $2,000 for 6 months could serve:
o25 households for approximately $300,000
o50 households for approximately $600,000
A flexible model could allow:
oSome tenants to receive a one-time payment for back rent totaling $5,000–$10,000
oOthers to receive partial or full rent coverage depending on urgency, pending eviction status, or household income
Given the higher monthly benefit levels, the program is intentionally designed for fewer participants to keep costs manageable and ensure deeper support per household. The table below provides sample scenarios for a 6-month pilot, serving between 25 and 50 households.
Scenario Households
Served
Monthly
Benefit
Total Benefit (6
months)
Estimated Total
Cost
A 25 $1,000 $6,000 $150,000
B 25 $2,000 $12,000 $300,000
C 25 $3,000 $18,000 $450,000
D 50 $1,000 $6,000 $300,000
E 50 $2,000 $12,000 $600,000
F 50 $3,000 $18,000 $900,000
At these higher levels of support, the estimated costs for a 6-month program would be approximately:
100 households:
o$1,000/month = $600,000 total (100 × $1,000 × 6 months) o$3,000/month = $1.8 million total (100 × $3,000 × 6 months) 200 households:
o$1,000/month = $1.2 million total (200 × $1,000 × 6 months) Attachment 3 Page 4 of 5
o$3,000/month = $3.6 million total (200 × $3,000 × 6 months) Considering that Glendale’s LACAHSA allocation is roughly $2 million, a program at the higher $3,000/month level for 200 households would exceed available funding unless additional resources (e.g., General Fund) are identified. This larger rollout would still maintain a targeted, high-touch approach while reaching a greater number of residents.
If council considers a flexible ren assistance based on each households actual rent obligation, precise per-person costs will fluctuate because rent amounts and arrears vary by household. However, based on previous modeling, total costs are expected to remain in a similar range as the fixed-subsidy scenarios.
To simplify administration and budgeting, Council may choose to authorize a set funding amount (e.g., $500,000 or $1 million) and direct staff to serve as many eligible households as possible within that budget. This approach allows flexibility while maintaining fiscal discipline.
Program Administration
The program would be administered by the Community Development – Housing Division, but due to the intensive, high-touch nature of this assistance, additional staff capacity will likely be necessary to manage application review, case management, and follow-up. While existing staff can support program setup and oversight, the workload involved in evaluating hardship, coordinating payments, and providing hands-on guidance might require dedicated staffing resources to ensure the program’s success. Case Management: Staff would work closely with each recipient to review their financial situation, verify hardship, and determine the appropriate level of support. This includes direct communication with applicants, landlords, and partner organizations to ensure timely and effective assistance. Application Process: Applications will be available online and in paper format, with in-person or phone support for seniors or households with language or technology barriers.
Targeted Outreach: Outreach will involve close collaboration with local nonprofits, senior centers, and community organizations to identify eligible households and provide hands-on assistance.
Staffing Needs: Even with a small-scale pilot (25–50 households), the detailed verification and follow-up required would strain existing staff capacity. A larger rollout (100–200 households or more) will almost certainly require additional staffing, potentially including hourly support, reallocation of current staff or the Attachment 3 Page 5 of 5
creation of at least one full-time case management position. The level of staffing needed will depend on Council’s expectations regarding the program’s depth, data tracking, and individualized support.
Funding Sources
The Temporary Rental Assistance Program will be funded through LACAHSA funds, the City’s General Fund, or a combination of both:
LACAHSA Funds: Available in FY 2025–26, limited to 6 months of assistance. City General Fund: Could be used to fund a pilot program or extend assistance beyond 6 months.
Blended Approach: Using LACAHSA funds to launch a small pilot while planning for potential General Fund support if the program demonstrates strong outcomes.
Next Steps
Council direction is requested on whether to move forward with this Temporary Rental Assistance Program. If Council chooses to proceed, key decisions will include:
Determining the structure of assistance, including whether to offer fixed monthly subsidies, flexible rent coverage, or back due rent payments. Setting the overall program budget and deciding whether to allocate a fixed amount to serve as many eligible households as possible. Defining the number of households to assist or allowing staff flexibility based on need and available funding.
Selecting the funding source(s)- LACAHSA, General Fund, or a combination. Establishing eligibility guidelines, including hardship criteria, documentation requirements, and priority populations (e.g., households in active eviction proceedings, seniors, families with children, etc.).
This program can be designed to meet urgent needs and complement longer-term programs like LIFERAP. Staff can return with a detailed implementation plan following Council direction.