LOS ANGELES (CNS) — Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and Council President Nury Martinez Wednesday announced that Angelenos will be able to apply for additional rental assistance through a program handled by the state that will begin accepting applications on Wednesday, Sept. 1.

"When the pandemic hit almost 18 months ago, the first action this Council took was to implement an eviction moratorium and committed $100 Million to start the Emergency Rental Assistance Program," Council President Nury Martinez said.

"After creating the largest rental assistance program in the nation, I'm glad that we will be able to multiply our efforts by working with Gov. Newsom and the State of California to provide the funds and resources our residents need. I'm proud of this city's advocacy for renters; no one should worry about losing the roof over their head during a pandemic."

So far, the city's program has approved about 17,000 households for rental assistance, according to Ann Sewill, general manager of the Housing + Community Investment Department. Those landlords are expected to receive a total of about $235 million in funds to pay off the tenants' back rent. About 4,000 landlords have already received the funds.

The partnership with the state will allow the city's residents to access more resources and ensure that demand for rental assistance is met, officials said. 

"The state's program will serve all Angelenos struggling with rent payments as COVID-19 continues to impact their livelihoods," said Gustavo Velasquez, Director of the Department of Housing and Community Development, the administrator of the CA COVID-19 Rent Relief Program. "HCD has a robust application infrastructure in place, partners on the ground to meet Angelenos where they are, and hundreds of case managers helping people statewide through the application process. We have ramped up to do everything in our power to make Angeleno renters and landlords whole." 

California has committed $5.2 billion in rental relief funds for California residents. According to the Housing + Community Investment Department, the projected need for rental assistance in Los Angeles is about $950 million.

"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. This partnership with the state builds on our local rental relief efforts to make it clear that every renter who is eligible for rental assistance will be able to access this program."

Starting at 7 a.m. on Sept. 1, Los Angeles renters and landlords can apply for rental assistance through the state's program at HousingIsKey.com or by calling 833-687-0967. People who already applied for the city's program will be contacted with instructions for next steps.