LA County leaders delay vote on rent relief tied to fire recovery, ICE raids

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The proposal: County leaders were scheduled to vote on setting up a new $10 million Emergency Rent Relief Program, with potential for additional funding. Priority would have been given to applicants who lost income and fell behind on rent because of the Palisades and Eaton fires, as well as displaced families running out of FEMA or insurance relocation money.

Families who lost income because of a breadwinner being detained or prevented from working because of federal immigration raids also would have been prioritized.

The vote: The question of forging ahead with the existing plan or delaying it for further consideration narrowly split the board. Supervisors Kathryn Barger, Janice Hahn, and Holly Mitchell voted in favor of delaying the decision, while supervisors Lindsey Horvath and Hilda Solis voted against the postponement.

“Our neighbors are suffering now,” Horvath said. “We have the funding. There is demonstrated need. What we don’t have is time to waste.”

Barger said plans for the rent relief funding had become increasingly complex over time and needed further consideration.

“With multiple priority groups, differing eligibility criteria, and several funding sources, the program may be confusing for applicants and difficult to administer efficiently,” Barger said.

What’s next: The proposal will next be considered by the board’s Operations Cluster on Sept. 10. The full board is expected to vote on it Sept. 16.

County housing officials told the board it likely would take close to 90 days to set up the program and start distributing funds, following the board’s approval.