Mayor Eric Garcetti and City Council President Nury Martinez have announced a partnership between the city of Los Angeles and the state of California that will allow Angelenos to access additional state and federal rental assistance funds.

The move will ensure that all qualified applicants who already have applied for assistance are able to access funding. It also will allow Angelenos who have not previously applied for funding to submit applications starting Wednesday, Sept. 1.

“Every Angeleno who has had their livelihood upended by this pandemic and is in need of rental assistance should be able to get it, full stop,” Garcetti said. “COVID-19 has dealt a devastating blow to our residents, and it’s our responsibility as a government to help them weather this crisis.”

The new agreement will allow Los Angeles residents to tap into the $5.2 billion in emergency rental relief funds that the state has received from the federal government, ensuring all renters and landlords who are eligible for the relief will receive it.

Under the agreement, the state will be responsible for processing applications and distributing relief funds to Angelenos. The city and the state will partner to conduct outreach and education on application opportunities for residents, as well as outreach to individuals who have submitted applications but have not received assistance. Outreach will be conducted in conjunction with community-based organizations that will help address language barriers and reach residents who may have limited access to technology.

The latest announcement builds on the city’s efforts to support residential renters through emergency protections, eviction defense services and investments in rental relief. Last year, the city led the largest rental assistance program in the nation, with the City Council allocating nearly $100 million that the Los Angeles Housing Department administered to more than 49,000 households in under six months.

LAHD is currently administering the first round of federal assistance, with more than $69 million in payments on the way, and more than $196 million – or 83% of funds – obligated to renters with approved applications.

Los Angeles’ demand for rental assistance has far exceeded the city’s allocated funding, with $235.5 million received in the first round of funding compared to more than $500 million in rental debt reported in just the first year of the pandemic. The new partnership with the state will give Angelenos access to a much larger pool of resources and help ensure all qualified demand for assistance is met.

Los Angeles renters and landlords will be able to apply for assistance through the state program at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 1, by visiting housingiskey.com.

Residents can also call the appointment call center at (833)687-0967 if they need help filling out an application. Renters who have already applied to the city’s program will be provided with detailed instructions on next steps.