Question: What would it take to expand the current rent relief program from one-time assistance so families can receive two or three months of assistance, and what would it cost? How many people are currently served by the program and at what cost per household? How many households could be served by an additional $100,000 or $200,000? (Mayor Gaskins, Vice Mayor Bagley)
Response:
The locally funded emergency rental assistance program provides eligible households with short-term rent payments of up to three months within any 12-month period.
As of March 17, 2026, the program served 69 households, with an average award of $3,264, equivalent to approximately two months of assistance, depending on the fees associated with any rental arrearage.
Based on current program costs, an additional $100,000 in funding would extend assistance to an estimated 31 households, and an additional $200,000 would serve approximately 62 households.
DCHS would consider separating funds for pre-/post-eviction services with additional funds. It would be possible to adjust eligibility and length-of-service criteria to be more responsive to community needs. This could be done as a separate initiative focused on pre- or post-eviction services and higher dollar amount distributions. It could also be done more broadly across the program, but that may result in a reduction in the overall number of households served.
For more information on other City programs related to eviction prevention and rent relief, refer to memo 025 – Rental Assistance.