Supes To Consider Expanding Coronavirus Rental Assistance Fund​

MARIN COUNTY, CA — Marin County and the Marin County Foundation on Tuesday will ask the Marin County Board of Supervisors to double the size of the original COVID-19 Relief Fund, with an additional $500,000 each from the county and from the foundation.

The fund was created March 24, with $1 million set aside for immediate rental assistance for people who were either homeless or threatened with homelessness because of the economic fallout of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The Board of Supervisors will consider approving a $1 million master contract that would apply to contracts between the Marin County Department of Health and Human Services and local homeless rental assistance providers that would assure the money reaches those who most need it.

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Marin County Administrator Matthew Hymel said the emergency funds are meant to offer short-term assistance before federal and state support arrives. County staff has worked as quickly as possible to distribute the funds to qualified recipients.

"It's clear we need to continue focusing on providing emergency rental assistance to those in our community who may have lost their jobs because of this pandemic and are the most economically disadvantaged," Supervisor Katie Rice said in a statement. "Addressing socioeconomic and
racial equity were already big priorities for the county before this emergency, and we need to take actions that will limit the equity gap from getting wider."

After the safety-net fund was created and publicized, 1,475 applications were received with requests for rental assistance. Many more applications have come in since then. The partnering agencies quickly distributed April rental assistance to 487 low-income residents, approaching $800,000 in allocations.

Fund administrators are also appealing to the community for additional donations, which can be directed toward rental assistance for low-income residents during April and May. Donations through the Marin County Foundation may be made via the website.

Also see:

• California Coronavirus: Latest Updates On Cases, Orders, Closures
• Coronavirus In Marin County: Latest News
• Marin County Makes Face Coverings Mandatory: Coronavirus
• Coronavirus: Marin County Sees Signs Of Flattening The Curve
• Marin County Prepares For Surge In Coronavirus Patients
• Marin County Public Health Officer Recovers From Coronavirus
• 10th Coronavirus Death Reported In Marin County
• Face Coverings Recommended As Coronavirus Cases Rise In Marin
• Marin County Cancels Classes For Rest Of School Year
• Coronavirus Stay-At-Home Order Extended In Bay Area: What To Know

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