Fair Housing Advocates of Northern California
NOTICE REGARDING COVID-19
As fair housing service providers in the counties of Marin, Sonoma and Solano, we want to ensure that we support people of protected classes and continue to serve them as best as we can. Although many service organizations are reducing services, FHANC is altering its policies so that we can continue to serve the community, protect clients and staff, and mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
As a result, we have suspended all non-essential in-person meetings, off-site visits, and community events.
FHANC will continue to serve clients via telephone and email.
At this moment of unprecedented crisis, it is incumbent upon all of us to work together to keep our community’s most vulnerable families healthy and housed. We thank you all for your understanding and support.
Resources: FHANC will update as new resources become available
Covid-19 Resources for Individuals with Disabilities
Marin County:
- CDC Resources and Information in ASL
- COVID-19 Update by Deaf and Hard of Hearing Service Center (DHHSC)
- Plain Language Information on Coronavirus
Marin County:
- May 2, 2022 Update: Updated language to replace fully vaccinated with completed primary series to bring outdated terminology up to dateOn June 15, 2021, California moved to Beyond the Blueprint for a Safer Economy and eliminated the color-coded tier system for counties.
- Marin County Health Orders for Shelter-in-Place and Business Reopening Information.
- **Update** Marin County has extended the County's eviction moratorium through September 30, 2021.
- For more information regarding the eviction moratorium, including documentation requirements, please visit: https://www.marincounty.org/depts/cd/divisions/housing/renter-and-landlord-resources
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Tenant Rights & Responsibilities in Eviction Cases as of October 1, 2021
- For latest data on Marin County vaccinations, click here.
- Emergency rental assistance program is currently open and accepting applicants. To apply for and receive assistance, please call (415)473-2223 or CA Relay 711 to be placed on the waitlist and a staff member will call you back to conduct an intake.
- ¿Necesita ayuda pagar su renta para los meses de septiembre 2020 a enero 2021? El Programa de Asistencia con la Renta del Condado de Marin ahora está abierto y aceptando aplicaciones. Para aplicar y recibir asistencia, por favor llame al 415-473-2223 o Servicio de Retransmisión de CA 711 para poner su nombre en la lista de espera. Si no contesta su llamada, por favor deje un mensaje con su nombre y número de teléfono para que un miembro de nuestro personal pueda regresar su llamada.
- Non-housing resources:
- Marin Food Bank link
- Apply for assistance programs (cash assistance, CalFresh, and Medi-cal)
- Health Department guidelines and orders: MarinHHS.org/coronavirus
- Individuals can contact Marin Health and Human Services with non-medical questions about the coronavirus by calling (415) 473-7191 (Monday – Friday, 9:30am to 12-noon and 1pm to 5pm).
Solano County:
- Click here to visit the Solano County resources website
- On June 15, 2021, California moved to Beyond the Blueprint for a Safer Economy and eliminated the color-coded tier system for counties.
- COVID Testing Sites or call (888) 634-1123 to register for an appointment.
- California's statewide eviction moratorium has been extended until the of June, 2021. Federal eviction moratorium has been extended until March 31, 2021.
- Apply for rent relief program through the California website here.
- ¿Necesita ayuda pagando la renta o los servicios públicos?
- 您是否需要協助支付租金或公用事業（水電煤）費用？
- 임대료나 공공 요금 납부에 도움이 필요한가요?
- Cần hỗ trợ trả tiền thuê nhà và hóa đơn dịch vụ tiện ích ?
- Kailangan ng Tulong sa Pagbabayad ng Upa o Utilities?
- Vaccine Rollout Plan
- Non-housing resources:
- Adult Resource Phone Line: 707-784-1607 This phone line provides information on caring for older adults, elderly neighbors, and those with disabilities in Solano County. Call for more information on how you can get help caring for a loved one.
- Find Food in my City (Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano)
Sonoma County:
- Sonoma County Coronavirus Response website.
- On June 15, 2021, California moved to Beyond the Blueprint for a Safer Economy and eliminated the color-coded tier system for counties.
- Tenants: Sonoma County expands rental assistance and eviction moratorium until November 1, 2021.
- General information of Emergency Response efforts in the County. Información en espanol aqui.
- Financial Assistance for Households: Includes resources for rental assistance, reduced utility bills, new protections and information for tenants and landlords, eviction defense ordinance.
- To apply for rental assistance, visit Sonoma County's online application portal here.
- Resources for seniors: https://socoemergency.org/emergency/novel-coronavirus/resources-information/resources-for-seniors-and-vulnerable-populations-during-shelter-in-place
- Hot meals and mobile shower locations
- Financial assistance programs for residents and businesses
- Health department guidelines and orders: https://socoemergency.org/emergency/novel-coronavirus/
- Behavioral Health Warm Line (707) 565-2652 will be available for calls starting April 23, 2020. This free and private warm line is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The warm line has English and Spanish speaking staff answering calls and telephone interpretation for other languages.
California:
- The State's regional Stay-at-Home Order has been lifted as of January 25. For information on the status of activities in your county visit: https://covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy/
- Get financial help - links to unemployment insurance, student loan relief, paid family leave, disability insurance, relief from financial institutions, and information on the statewide moratorium on evictions. Check if you qualify for the Golden State Stimulus payments here.
- *Updated July 1* Eviction protections have been extended until September 20, 2021. Get financial help and understand your rights as a renter here.
- *Updated as of January 25* Eviction protections have been extended until June 31, 2021.
- **Updated** Governor Newsom signs statewide COVID-19 tenant and landlord protections: New law includes targeted protections for tenants to shield them from evictions due to COVID-19-related back rent through February 1, 2021. Extends anti-foreclosure protections in the Homeowner Bill of Rights to small landlords.
- A statewide freeze is in place on residential evictions through September 30, 2020. Renters in California who cannot pay their rent because of COVID-19 related hardships should know their rights. Learn more about what to do if you can't pay rent.
- **Updated** Governor Newsom signs statewide COVID-19 tenant and landlord protections: New law includes targeted protections for tenants to shield them from evictions due to COVID-19-related back rent through February 1, 2021. Extends anti-foreclosure protections in the Homeowner Bill of Rights to small landlords.
- *Updated as of January 25* Eviction protections have been extended until June 31, 2021.
- If you can’t pay your mortgage, these financial institutions may be able to reduce or delay your monthly payment. In addition, they will:
- Give you a streamlined process for requesting forbearance for COVID-19-related reasons, supported with available documentation;
- Confirm approval of and terms of the forbearance program; and
- Provide you the opportunity to extend your forbearance agreement if you continue to experience hardship due to COVID-19.
- Protections for homeowners
- For more resources provided by the CFPB, visit their website here on action steps to prevent foreclosure.
- Many utility providers are not shutting off services due to non-payment.
- California resources for emotional support and well-being:
- 24-hour suicide prevention lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 or text 838255
- 24-hour domestic violence hotline: 1-800-799-7233 or click Chat Now
- County data monitoring - current local data, testing, contact tracing, and county watch list.
- Governor's order to protect renters and homeowners
- Governor's order for emergency funding to protect homeless Californians
- California Coronavirus Response page - information on testing to financial assistance
- Benefits for workers impacted by the coronavirus closures - A chart with details for each assistance program
- DFEH - California Office FAQ Sheet for Housing Information on Covid-19 (English)
Federal:
- *Update August 3, 2021* Biden administration announced the CDC extension of the federal eviction moratorium to targeted areas nationwide through October 3, 2021.
- *Update* Eviction moratorium was extended through March 31, 2021. CDC eviction moratorium issued Sept 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020 - AB 3088.
- *Update* American Rescue Plan Act Summary
- FAQ: Eligibility for assistance under the CARES Act based on immigration status fact sheet
- AB 2088 training for self help center by Western Center on Law and Poverty
- ProPublic database that contains addresses qualify for federal eviction protections. Also State by State breakdown of state and local eviction protections rules.
- California eviction protections expire after August 31 or End of Declared Emergency
- Federal Aid package "Families First"
- Relief for FHA, USDA, and VA loans as well as loans owned by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
- Foreclosure Protections and Mortgage Payment Relief for Homeowners in the CARES Act. This is a summary of single-family mortgage provisions in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) and related federal actions.(From National Housing Law Project)
- CARES Act Eviction Moratorium Summary. The federal stimulus package in response to COVID-19 (The CARES Act) was passed on March 27. The bill includes a moratorium on some residential evictions. This memo is a summary of those eviction protections. (From National Housing Law Project)
Local Organizations:
- Legal Services of Northern California - New statewide moratorium on evictions and more protections for homeowners and landlords
- Youtube video: COVID-19 Tenant Relief Act of 2020 (AB 3088)
- Youtube video in Spanish: AB 3088 Ley de Alivio para Inquilinos
- Western Center on Law and Poverty - Up-to-date Information for Covid-19 (all resources)
- National Fair Housing Alliance - Covid-19 Resource Center
- COVID-19 Disability Research Memo: (August 9) People who currently have COVID-19, those who have a history of having the virus, and those who are perceived as having the virus may be protected against housing discrimination under long-standing interpretations of the Fair Housing Act and other civil rights laws.
- Legal Aid of Marin - Covid-19 Legal Resources
