Solano County and Catholic Charities of Yolo-Solano continue to process ERAP claims received before July 31 deadline; as of August 1, those still in need of rental assistance who have not yet applied are encouraged to apply through the State

August 19, 2021

SOLANO COUNTY – The local application period for Solano County residents to apply for County Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) funding under the CARES Act has closed.  The County and Catholic Charities of Yolo-Solano continue to work through processing existing applications.  For those who are still in need, you are encouraged to apply through the State.  The State has reserved an additional $14.3 million for Solano County residents who are eligible and have not yet applied for emergency rental assistance through their Housing is Key website, https://Housing.Ca.Gov. 

Catholic Charities of Yolo and Solano, the contracted administrator for the County’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program, has received more than 3,000 applications from renters and landlords as of July 31, 2021, the date the County’s program officially closed to accept new applications.  Due to a higher volume of applications and phone calls than originally anticipated, the processing and payment of applications has been time consuming.  The County has hired additional staff to assist in the process, and as a result, applications are being processed by both Catholic Charities and Solano County staff to expedite the approval and distribution process for eligible individuals in need of rental assistance.  Applications submitted between April 22 and May 26, 2021 are being processed by Catholic Charities of Yolo-Solano and applications received between May 27 and July 31, 2021 are being processed by County staff with assistance from the Children’s Network and local Family Resource Centers.

The County recognizes there is a growing need for rental relief, and that people are anxious to know the status of their application.  Processing each application to ensure the renter meets the federal requirements of the federally funded program takes time, and the process can take even longer if applications are incomplete and/or documents are not provided.  The following are some tips to help speed up your application if you applied through the local County ERAP program, or things to consider if you wish to apply at this time through the State. 

IF YOU APPLIED THROUGH THE LOCAL COUNTY ERAP PRIOR TO JULY 31
If you applied to the local County ERAP prior to the July 31 deadline, please take a moment to make sure you have completed the following steps in order to help expedite the processing of your application: 

n  Make sure you answer all the questions on the application
n  Make sure you have attached all necessary documents to the application
n  Make sure you have officially submitted the documents, do not leave them incomplete
n  Make sure you only submit one application, as duplicates can slow down the approval process  

If you need to make a change and your application has already been submitted, call (707) 400-0741 or your local Family Resource Center for assistance. 

IF YOU WANT TO APPLY FOR ERAP FUNDING AT THIS TIME WITH THE STATE
If you want to apply for rental assistance funding but missed the County’s July 31 program deadline, you can still apply for ERAP funding through the State’s “Housing is Key” program.  Qualifying renters and landlords are now eligible for 100 percent of rent and utilities owed.  Visit the Housing is Key website at https://Housing.Ca.Gov or call (833) 430-2122.