The Santa Monica City Council has approved a program to provide $6 million in financial aid to vulnerable renters, city officials said Wednesday.
The council approved the Santa Monica Renter Aid program on Tuesday, the first major funding allocation from Measure GS. It will be administered in partnership with The People Concern.
The program is expected to launch this summer and will provide targeted financial assistance and housing stabilization services to eligible renter households facing housing instability or at risk of homelessness. It is expected to assist approximately 150 households each year.
“Santa Monica renters are the backbone of our community, and this program is about making sure they can stay here,” Mayor Caroline Torosis said. “Santa Monica Renter Aid puts Measure GS dollars to work exactly as voters intended, keeping working families housed before a crisis becomes a catastrophe. This is homelessness prevention that is a smart investment for our city.”
Households earning at or below 120% of the area median income, or about $126,000 annually for a one-person household and $180,000 for a four-person household in Los Angeles County, will be eligible. Households experiencing significant housing instability or those at greatest risk of homelessness will be prioritized.
Santa Monica Renter Aid will feature multiple access points for residents, including an online application through the city’s website, multilingual application materials and outreach, paper applications, in-person office hours at Virginia Avenue Park, and housing navigation support through community partners.
Measure GS was approved by Santa Monica voters in November 2022, creating a dedicated funding source for homelessness prevention, affordable housing production and renter support programs.
The People Concern, a longstanding partner with the city in addressing homelessness, will regularly report outcomes. Additional data points will include the program’s effectiveness in helping residents remain housed, successful linkages to other city programs such as the Right to Counsel program and feedback from participant surveys.
Additional details will be announced before the program launch.