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STOCKTON, Calif. – Many families and individuals are faced with tough choices during the economic hardships brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The City of Stockton residential Rental/Mortgage Assistance Program is available to households that are at risk of losing their homes due to a reduction in income. Eligible households may receive funding for up to three (3) months of assistance with a maximum grant of $3,600 for renters and $4,800 for homeowners. “The City of Stockton has partnered with El Concilio to offer this program,” shared Economic Development Director Carrie Wright. “They are available to assist households that may qualify with the application process, including helping to determine who meets the eligibility requirements and what documentation is needed to complete the application.”

Beginning Wednesday, August 19, 2020, at noon, applications will be accepted through an online application portal. Applications will be available in multiple languages. Eligible households must meet the following criteria:

• Be a resident of the City of Stockton prior to February 1, 2020.
• Have a current income that does not exceed 80% of the area median income (AMI), based on the number of persons in the household.
• Be persons or households that have suffered a substantial loss in income for any of the following reasons: job loss; a reduction of compensated hours of work; business closure or reduction of operations; missing work due to a minor child’s school closure; or other similar reasons resulting in a loss of income due to COVID-19 and not being able to pay rent or mortgage.
• Provide documentation that verifies loss of income due to COVID-19.

Applicants who meet the eligibility criteria will be required to provide the following documentation:

• Basic applicant information on all members of the household who are over the age of 18 years.
• Current rental agreement or mortgage statement.
• Landlord verification that the tenant’s rent was current prior to March 12, 2020.
• Documentation of household income prior to and after March 12, 2020, indicating income loss.
• Verification of loss of income, for example, termination notice, unemployment award letter, pay stubs reflecting reduced salary, bank statements, or other similar documentation.

El Concilio will process payments for approved applications. Payments will be made directly to the landlord for renters or to the lender for homeowners. Each check will be sent certified mail and include a letter indicating the reason for payment. This housing security program is made possible through City of Stockton Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) funding.

For more information, please visit www.stocktonca.gov/housing or contact El Concilio directly at (209) 644-2600 or HRAP@elconcilio.org.