(From left) District 5 Supervisor Judy Arnold, District 4 Supervisor Dennis Rodoni, District 2 Supervisor Katie Rice (Board President), District 3 Supervisor Kate Sears, District 1 Supervisor Damon Connolly.
In a move to protect residential and commercial tenants from evictions amidst the Coronavirus pandemic, the Marin County Board of Supervisors Tuesday approved a resolution that prevents evictions of tenants suffering a sudden loss of income due to the shelter in place order and related efforts to combat community spread.
The resolution, which applies to both residential and commercial properties in all cities, towns and the unincorporated areas of the county, runs through May 31, and includes a prohibition on late fees. It can be extended as needed.
“We want to help those who really have difficult circumstances,” said Supervisor Kate Sears, who represents Mill Valley and southern Marin. “This is a direct response to the shelter in place and the loss of income that’s coming with it for so many. We hope that tenants work with landlords to perhaps create payments plans right now.”
The resolution focuses on tenants facing the financial impacts related to COVID-19, including having a substantial loss of household income because of a business closure, a loss of work hours or wages, layoffs, or extraordinary out-of-the pocket medical expenses related to the virus.
Supervisors directed county staff to get messaging out to tenants and landlords letting them know about obligations but also the resources available to them. County Senior Planner LeeLee Thomas also noted California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s order also requested that financial institutions consider forbearance and flexibilities around mortgage payments.
“A lot of small landlords are stepping up to be part of the solution,” Sears said. “They have their own concerns about cash flow and about keeping things going. We want to be a resource to them.”
In an effort to expedite the resolution, county officials leaned on a “just cause for eviction” ordinance they adopted in December 2018. That resolution limited the reasons that a landlord can end a residential tenancy. The new resolution provides temporary protections to all residential and commercial tenants “whose residency and businesses may be jeopardized by the loss of income related to COVID-19.”
In related news, supervisors also approved a $1 million relief fund to assist vulnerable populations during the coronavirus pandemic response. Both the county and the Marin Community Foundation contributed $500,000 to address the most urgent safety-net needs of residents.
Supervisor Dennis Rodoni asked if the fund would be available to help small businesses, and County Administrator Matthew Hymel clarified that the $1 million fund focused primarily on low income residents, including expanding food availability to low-income families and seniors, as well as wi-fi and mobile access for students that don’t have it and emergency childcare provisions for healthcare workers and first responders.
“We’ll be working with our local chambers on small business initiatives going forward,” Hymel said.
“Keeping small businesses intact and having them rehire employees is the best way to reduce the need for all these other items,” Rodoni added.
MORE INFO ON COVID-19-RELATED BUSINESS RELIEF INITIATIVES.
The resolution, which applies to both residential and commercial properties in all cities, towns and the unincorporated areas of the county, runs through May 31, and includes a prohibition on late fees. It can be extended as needed.
“We want to help those who really have difficult circumstances,” said Supervisor Kate Sears, who represents Mill Valley and southern Marin. “This is a direct response to the shelter in place and the loss of income that’s coming with it for so many. We hope that tenants work with landlords to perhaps create payments plans right now.”
The resolution focuses on tenants facing the financial impacts related to COVID-19, including having a substantial loss of household income because of a business closure, a loss of work hours or wages, layoffs, or extraordinary out-of-the pocket medical expenses related to the virus.
Supervisors directed county staff to get messaging out to tenants and landlords letting them know about obligations but also the resources available to them. County Senior Planner LeeLee Thomas also noted California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s order also requested that financial institutions consider forbearance and flexibilities around mortgage payments.
“A lot of small landlords are stepping up to be part of the solution,” Sears said. “They have their own concerns about cash flow and about keeping things going. We want to be a resource to them.”
In an effort to expedite the resolution, county officials leaned on a “just cause for eviction” ordinance they adopted in December 2018. That resolution limited the reasons that a landlord can end a residential tenancy. The new resolution provides temporary protections to all residential and commercial tenants “whose residency and businesses may be jeopardized by the loss of income related to COVID-19.”
In related news, supervisors also approved a $1 million relief fund to assist vulnerable populations during the coronavirus pandemic response. Both the county and the Marin Community Foundation contributed $500,000 to address the most urgent safety-net needs of residents.
Supervisor Dennis Rodoni asked if the fund would be available to help small businesses, and County Administrator Matthew Hymel clarified that the $1 million fund focused primarily on low income residents, including expanding food availability to low-income families and seniors, as well as wi-fi and mobile access for students that don’t have it and emergency childcare provisions for healthcare workers and first responders.
“We’ll be working with our local chambers on small business initiatives going forward,” Hymel said.
“Keeping small businesses intact and having them rehire employees is the best way to reduce the need for all these other items,” Rodoni added.
MORE INFO ON COVID-19-RELATED BUSINESS RELIEF INITIATIVES.