• CITY OF LOS SANTOS | Rental Assistance Program

1. Program Overview VIEW INFORMATION
2. Help for Renters VIEW INFORMATION
3. Help if you've Lost Housing VIEW INFORMATION

• CITY OF LOS SANTOS | Rental Assistance Program

SPACER

• Help for renters
  If you’re having trouble making rent payments, you’re not alone.
  Find out what you can do to get help with housing expenses and avoid eviction.
  
  
  • What to do if you're struggling to pay rent.
  Talk to your landlord about a repayment agreement.
  In addition to applying for rental assistance, now may be the time to start a conversation with your landlord if you're struggling to pay your full rent each month or need to repay past due rent.
  
  Get year-round help with utility bills by apply our Rental Assistance Program,or calling the your local Rental Assistance Agency at 1-800-STATE.
  
  
  • If you're worried about eviction or have lost your home.
  We can help you understand what next steps to take, based on your situation right now.
  
  
  • Find out if you have more protections.
  
  
  Help if you’ve lost housing
  If you have lost your housing through foreclosure or eviction, you’re not alone. Help may be available in your area.
  Your physical health and safety is your first concern. After you take care of your basic needs, you can use the steps below to work on your money situation and find stable housing.

• CITY OF LOS SANTOS | Rental Assistance Program

SPACER

• Get help paying rent and bills
  If you’re a renter looking for help with housing costs, you’re not alone.
  
  
  • Programs providing rental assistance.
  State and local organizations are a good place to start when you are looking for help paying your rent. You can ask at local government offices like your town hall or representative’s office.
  
  • Contact 1-800-STATE.
  If you need help finding options to pay your rent or utility bills so you can stay in your home, call 1-800-STATE and we can help you identify available resources.

About your ERT card

• If this is your first ERT card, we’ll mail your card within 10 days after you apply. If you qualify for emergency processing, you will get your card within 3 days.
  -If you already have an ERT card, we’ll add rent money to that one unless you need a new card.
• If you are approved, you will get a letter saying when we will add rent money to your card every month.
• Keep using your ERT card:
  - The ERT card must be used only on the rent payment dates mentioned in the rental contract concluded between the tenant and the landlord. Your balance will carry over to the following month(s).
  - There is a limit of two uses per month you can use your ERT card each month, as long as there is still money on the card.
  - If you don’t use it for 2 months or more, you will lose the rent money on your card.
  
  Activating your ERT card
  • Call 1-800-STATE - the phone number on the back of the card.
  • Select 1 for English or 2 for Spanish.
  • Enter the 18-digit card number on the front of the card.
  • Enter the Date of Birth of the person whose name is on the front of the card using 2-digit for month, 2-digit for day, and 4-digit for year.
  • Example: October 3, 1998 = 10031998
  • Enter the last four digits of their Social Security Number (SSN) of the person whose name is on the front of the card.
  • If the person whose name is on the front of the card does not have an (SSN), enter four zeroes (0000) in place of the SSN.
  • Select a 4-digit PIN.
  • You will need to enter the 4-digit PIN two times.
  To use your EBT card, you must enter your 4-digit PIN into the store card reader.

Protecting your ERT Card and PIN


Taking Care of Your ERT Card

• Keep your card in a safe place when you are not using it.
• Never write your PIN on your card.
• Do not damage or bend your card.
• Do not write on or scratch the black stripe on the back of your card.
• Do not put your card near magnets, TVs, stereos, VCRs, or even the magnetic clasp on a purse.

Protecting Your PIN
PIN stands for Personal Identification Number. Your PIN is your electronic signature. It is like a key; it gives you access to your benefits.

• Keep your PIN a secret.
• Never write your PIN on your card.
• Never let anyone see you enter your PIN at the store.
• Never give anyone your card or PIN. If a person has your card and knows your PIN, they can spend all of your SNAP money.
• If someone else steals your PIN and physical card, your rent money cannot be replaced.

Replacing your ERT card
If your ERT card is lost, stolen or damaged, there are 3 ways you can get a new one.


Choose one of the steps below:

• Call the LS DSS Benefit Center at 1-800-STATE
• Contact ERT customer service 1-800-STATE
• Visit any of the local LS SS Customer Center - Los Santos City Hall 1854 Hill Street Commerce, Los Santos 206.
  
  When you ask for a new ERT card, it deactivates your old card so that no one else can use it.
  
  You will need to select a new PIN for your new ERT card.
  
  If rent money is taken from a lost or stolen card, we can replace the card, but not the rent money. If any rent money is left on your old ERT card, it will automatically transfer to your new ERT card.
  
  We can replace rent money that was stolen electronically, due to card cloning or skimming.

When your rent money will be available


Rent money gets added to your ERT card on the same day every month.

Based on the first initial of your last name, you will receive your benefit(s) on the following dates: If you are currently receiving cash from us by check or direct deposit, you may continue to do so. Rent money can only be accessed using the ERT card.

What happens if I misuse my ERT card


It is a crime to defraud the system or to sell your card and PIN to others. Repeated loss and replacement of your card may result in a special investigation of your case.

Misuse or abuse of your card will result in investigation by State and/or Federal authorities. Documented violations will result in negative actions including:

• Removal from the program.
• Taking back money you owe by reducing your monthly rent money or you paying us back.
• And/or referral for criminal action.

• CITY OF LOS SANTOS | Rental Assistance Program

SPACER

• If you have lost your housing through foreclosure or eviction, you’re not alone. Help may be available in your area.
  
  Your physical health and safety is your first concern. After you take care of your basic needs, you can use the steps below to work on your money situation and find stable housing.

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  You may be eligible for free help
  You may be able to get help finding housing and other services. Because applications can take time, start your applications right away and then take other steps while the process is moving forward.
  
  
  Apply for subsidized housing
  In many areas, the wait to be approved for housing can be long, so don’t delay if you qualify.
  
  Sometimes, there are multiple waiting lists for different housing programs. When lists open, they are usually announced in local news and online. You can be on more than one waiting list at a time, in multiple areas.
  
  • Our Rental Assistance Program offers up to twelve months of free housing in one of our locations in Los Santos. Locations differ from needs and wants, to the number of people who benefit from our fully customizable program depending on the needs of the applicant.
    
    For more information, contact your rental assistance agent toll-free at 1-800-STATE.

• Social Services Housing Agency | Housing Waiting Lists
• Apply for Social Services Housing Agency