Community Corner
Rental Assistance Program To Launch In North OC
OC Supervisor Doug Chaffee Thursday kicked off a pilot project in his district to help needy families with rental assistance.
ORANGE COUNTY, CA — Orange County Board of Supervisors Vice Chairman Doug Chaffee Thursday kicked off a pilot project in his district to help needy families avoid homelessness with rental assistance and other services.
The supervisor seeded the pilot project with $500,000 in discretionary funds from his Fourth District fund.
"This program is intended to provide rental assistance of up to three months," Chaffee said at a news conference announcing the first day to apply for the financial help on Thursday.
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The rental assistance is open to residents of Chaffee's district in Brea, Buena Park, Fullerton, La Habra, Placentia, Stanton and parts of Anaheim.
The Friendly Center nonprofit will provide case management for the recipients. The nonprofit will also determine who is eligible for the assistance among those who apply for help, Chaffee said.
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Kenia Cueto, president and CEO of the Friendly Center, said the pilot project was a "testament to our shared commitment to helping those in need."
Cueto said the program was "tailored for individuals and families at risk of losing their homes" due to an unexpected medical emergency or other issues that crop up.
Cueto said a hotline has been set up for eligibility at 714-769-8777. More information and applications are also available on the nonprofit's website at Friendlycenter.org or at d4.ocgov.com/ERAP.
Luis Estrada, a case manager for the nonprofit, said applicants will also be coached up on "financial literacy" and how to connect with various other services. Estrada said a family of four from Buena Park recently took advantage of the nonprofit's services when a cancer diagnosis for the family's father caused sudden financial stress.
Kelly Bruno-Nelson of CalOptima Health said her agency, which provides insurance for about a million needy residents of the county, was "extremely excited when Supervisor Chaffee spoke to us about this project."
Chaffee said the project will keep going until it runs out of funding, and then it will be reviewed for its effectiveness.
"When we run out of money, that's the stop point," Chaffee said. "If it's working well ... we'll augment that funding."
