Emergency Rental Assistance

Thank you to the City of Santa Ana for allowing FTOC to participate in the CARES for Tenants Program where families Together distributed $1.8 million to families in need. A total of 281 families and 820 individuals were prevented from becoming homeless through the program.

Families Together of Orange County is now participating in the American Rescue Plan Act for Emergency Rental Assistance.

What is the American Rescue Plan Act for Emergency Rental Assistance?

Through the American Rescue Plan Act passed in 2021, Orange County residents may receive rental or mortgage assistance up to $5,000 per household for those affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Those who wish to apply for rental assistance must meet the following requirements:

Must be a resident of Orange County
Must have faced a Qualified Financial Hardship due to Covid-19 after May 1, 2020.
Combined income of all household members over the age of 18 is at or below 30% of the Area Median Income (AMI)
Current signed lease/sublease
Property owner participation is required
Applicant must reside in residency for minimum of six months

Those who wish to apply for mortgage assistance must meet the following requirements:

Must be a resident of Orange County
Must have faced a Qualified Financial Hardship due to Covid-19 after May 1, 2020
Past due on mortgage loan
Own a single-family home, condo or permanently affixed manufactured home
Combined income of all household members over the age of 18 is at or below 150% of the Area Median Income (AMI)
Homeowners cannot have cash or assets on hand (excluding savings in a retirement account) that are equal to or greater than the relief funds needed
Homeowner must currently own and occupy the property as their primary residence
Homeowner may only own and occupy one property

Families Together is now processing applications for eligible individuals and families.

An in person appointment is required to complete the application and assess your eligibility. Please call (714) 665- 9890 ext. 413 or email us at ERA@ftoc.us to schedule an appointment.

What do I bring to my appointment?

Picture I.D for all adults in the household and on the lease or sublease
COVID-19 documentation (loss of employment/hours at work, illness causing loss of hours at work, etc.). If you cannot obtain documentation, applicants can self-certify.
Current lease or sublease agreement (all pages) – if applicable
Mortgage documents – if applicable
Income verification for household members who currently have an income
- Four most recent, consecutive pay stubs
- Proof of benefits (such as Cal fresh, CalWORKs, Disability Income, Retirement Income, Unemployment, etc.)
Bank Statements (must show transaction history for a least the past 60 days)
Proof of paying past rent (verifiable receipts, money order, Zelle/Venmo transactions)
Landlord contact information (phone number and email)

I applied, what’s next?

Once the application is complete FTOC will reach out to the property owner/mortgage servicers to obtain necessary documents to determine eligibility. If approved applications payments go directly to the property owner or mortgage servicers within 5-7 business days.

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