On July 28, Chula Vista City Council voted to extend its eviction moratorium to Aug. 31.
Council passed the moratorium in early March. The vote was passed unanimously with Council member John McCann abstaining.
Leilani Hines, housing manager, said the original intent of the agenda was to extend it to the end of September, but suggested that council change the date to the end of August.
Hines said the reasoning for this was, considering all of the COVID-19 related assistance programs, getting a sense of its progress month-to-month was a better way to analyze data. She added that, in a recent survey of residents, the majority indicated residents have placed paying rent at the top of their priorities.
Mayor Mary Casillas Salas said in her talks with the city manager she agreed to revisit this item on a month-to-month basis.
“We want to be data-driven here in the city of Chula Vista and so I think this is a good recommendation,” she said. “I know it doesn’t preclude us from coming back to the council should the need arise and, as indicated, the termination of the $600 a month additional unemployment insurance benefit could really affect that ability to pay the rent. I am really amazed at how the residents of Chula Vista have made paying their rent on time a priority. I know that many times that comes at a great sacrifice to the families.”
Hines said the $1.45 million allocated for rental assistance should provide some level of expectation of rent and revenues for property owners. The rental assistance program is being offered with South Bay Community Services. Applications can be dropped off at 318 Fourth Ave. Monday through Friday or by emailing rental assistance@cbcs.org. Hines reminded everyone that anyone who needs immediate assistance should call 2-1-1.
The moratorium applies to all residential properties, rooms rented in single-family homes, duplexes, condominiums, affordable housing, market-rate apartments, mobile home and commercial tenant spaces in Chula Vista.
The moratorium only applies to evictions for nonpayment of rent or mortgage payments due to impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. There is no moratorium for lawful evictions for just causes.
For more information visit www.chulavistaca.gov.
