RESOURCE CENTER

Resources to help you continue your business operations amid the current "Shelter in Place" Order

Resources Available for Independent Contractors and Small Businesses

Rent and Mortgage Relief

Updated 3/26:

  • The Federal Housing Finance Agency will begin offering mortgage forbearance to multifamily property owners on the condition that they suspend all evictions for renters who can’t pay their rent because of the coronavirus. Click Here for More Information
  • Several of the largest banks in America, along with hundreds of state chartered banks and credit unions have waived mortgage payments in the short term from those experiencing financial hardship as a result of COVID-19. They have also agreed to a foreclosure moratorium. We recommend reaching out to your specific bank for exact details on these programs. Click Here for More Information
  • $11 Million Local Rental Payments / Crucial Bill Relief Fund: The County of Santa Clara, the City of San Jose, and Bay Area companies have partnered to help low-income residents (those making 80% or less of the AMI) pay rent and other crucial bills during this crisis. Click Here to Read More
  • We encourage all tenants and housing providers to familiarize themselves with this program, as it is the best route to make everyone financially whole immediately. This provides tenants with the resources to limit back rents burdens when the moratorium ends. It also gives housing providers the much needed immediate income for mortgages, property taxes, and their own living expenses.
Apply Now
Tax / Utility Relief

Updated 3/26:

  • The IRS has delayed the federal tax payment deadline by 90 days. Click Here for More Information
  • The CA Franchise Tax Board announced that state tax filings and payments deadline has been delayed until July 15, 2020. Click Here for More Information
  • Only the state has the ability to delay property taxes due to the County in April. Below is information on how to apply for a possible waiver of late fees and penalties. A coalition has been created with the CA Apartment Association to urge state legislators to delay property taxes. CLICK HERE TO TAKE ACTION
  • Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Santa Clara County Department of Tax and Collections individuals and businesses can apply for a “Request for Cancellation of Penalty” pertaining to late and partial payments. This will be handled on a case to case basis, proof must be shown that substantial loss of income occurred as a direct result of COVID-19, and there is no guarantee that penalties will be waived. Click Here for More Information
  • PG&E have implemented a series of billing and service modifications to support customers who have been impacted by the pandemic. Click Here for More Information
  • Silicon Valley Power (Santa Clara Residents) has announced no planned power outages or utility disconnection for nonpayment through at least April 7th. Click Here for More Information
Legislation Affecting Tenants, Housing Providers, Homeowners

Updated 4/16:

Federal

  • President Trump signed the CARES Act into law, a $2 trillion piece of legislation that is the largest ever in US history. NAR has released a summary of the provisions in the CARES Act that will be of most benefit to REALTORS® and their consumers as secured by NAR’s advocacy efforts over the past two weeks: Click Here for More Information
  • Please see the section below titled “Resources Available for Independent Contractors and Small Businesses” for specific programs and applications regarding the CARES Act
  • The US Department of Housing and Urban Development has suspended all evictions of tenants on HUD owned property (mostly apartment complexes with deed restricted affordable housing units).  Click Here for More Information
  • The Federal Housing Administration has enacted a foreclosure moratorium that applies to homeowners that have an FHA-insured Title II Single Family forward and Home Equity Conversion mortgage. Click Here for More Information
  • The Federal Housing Finance Agency will begin offering mortgage forbearance to multifamily property owners on the condition that they suspend all evictions for renters who can’t pay their rent because of the coronavirus. Click Here for More Information

State

  • Friday, March 27th Governor Newsom signed a statewide executive order creating a statewide eviction moratorium for non-payment of rent due to COVID-19 financial hardships. However, if a local jurisdiction has a more comprehensive moratorium the local ordinance supersedes the state executive order. Due to this see the information below regarding the Santa Clara County Eviction Moratorium which supersedes the state executive order. Click Here for the Executive Order

Santa Clara County Eviction Moratorium

The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to approve an eviction moratorium effectively immediately as of Tuesday, March 24, 2020, for all residential tenants and commercial tenants defined as a small business. Due to emergency powers granted to the County under an executive order from Governor Gavin Newsom this moratorium applies to all unincorporated areas AND all cities within the County’s jurisdiction. It is important to note all of the following information from the moratorium.

  • It is in effect until May 31, 2020.
  • ALL back rent unpaid during this moratorium is still owed by the tenant to the housing provider.
  • The tenant will have 120 days from the end of the moratorium to pay all back rent, in addition to new current rent due. After this point, late fees and penalties can begin to be assessed.
  • When the moratorium is lifted during the 120 days grace period late fees and evictions can still continue for unpaid new rent due.
  • The moratorium only protects tenants who can prove significant financial hardship as a direct result of COVID-19. Other forms of evictions can still occur. The tenant must be proactive and provide documentation to the landlord showing proof in any of the following ways:
    • Substantial loss of income from: (i) job loss; (ii) layoffs; (iii) a reduction in the number of compensable hours of work; (iv) a store, restaurant, office, or business closure; (v) a substantial decrease in business income caused by a reduction in opening hours or consumer demand; (vi) the need to miss work to care for a homebound school-age child or a family member infected with coronavirus; or (vii) other similarly-caused loss of income, where the conditions listed in (i) through (vii) resulted from frorn the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic or related guidance or public health orders from local, state, or federal authorities
    • Substantial out-of-pocket medical expenses for themselves or their immediate family members related to the 2020 COVID-l9 pandemic.
  • Failure to comply as a housing provider is not a criminal offense but punishable through civil fines and penalties.
  • Any notice of termination served on a Tenant during the 2020 COVID-I9 pandemic must also include a notice of Tenant’s rights under this Ordinance as well as a notice of emergency rental assistance programs.
  • SCCAOR encourages all tenants and housing providers to read the entire ordinance for a comprehensive understanding of the moratorium. Click Here to Read the Ordinance
  • If any local Cities that have enacted an eviction moratorium have a stricter ordinance it still applies along with the County ordinance
  • Click Here for City of San Jose Eviction Moratorium Information
  • Click Here for City of Santa Clara Eviction Moratorium Information
  • The City of Gilroy may explore a local eviction moratorium at their next Council meeting in April as well as rental subsidies
  • The cities of Campbell, Milpitas, and Morgan Hill have all deferred to the County Eviction Moratorium

 

Legislation and Relief for Tenants, Housing Providers, and Homeowners

Federal Resources

Updated 4/16:

  • Unfortunately, the SBA has stopped accepting new applications for the Paycheck Protection Program & Economic Injury Disaster Loans due to a lapse in funding. Please know that Congressional leaders are presently in negotiations to appropriate additional funding to the tune of $250 billion, after which, the programs should begin accepting applications again. It is unclear when the legislative logjam will break. The NAR Advocacy Team has been working tirelessly for Congress to approve more funding for these crucial SBA relief programs.
  • If you already submitted an application for any SBA relief resources or programs, be patient as they are inundated with applications right now.
  • As a part of the CARES Act two major federal resources have been allocated to independent contractors through the Small Business Administration (SBA), the Paycheck Protection Program and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan. The first $10,000 of each loan will be forgiveable (a non repaid grant) with any amount over that being a low interest loan. REALTORS® and Brokerages are eligble to apply for both, but only one of the two loan programs will include the forgiveable $10,000.
  • Click Here for Information and How to Apply for the Paycheck Program Program
  • Click Here for Information and How to Apply for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan
  • The CARES Act also approved independent contractors to be eligble for pandemic unemployment assistance. Information on this can be found in the states resources area as it will be implemented by the California Employment Development Department (CA EDD).
  • The US Small Business Administration will provide Disaster Assistance Loans for those impacted by COVID-19. Click Here for More Information
  • President Trump has signed into law the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (H.R. 6201) providing support to American workers, families, and businesses, including the expansion of paid sick leave and family medical leave. It will enter into effect on April 2, 2020. Click Here for More Information
  • Bank of America is allowing its borrowers to pause mortgage payments and is offering other support to small businesses. Click Here for More Information
  • The IRS has delayed the tax payment deadline by 90 days. Click Here for More Information
  • Opportunity Fund is an organization that provides loans to underserved small business owners. They have developed a program to help those struggling from COVID-19 impacts. Click Here for More Information
State Resources

Updated 4/16:

  • Two More Weeks (4/15) Until PUA Applications Available, According to California Department of Labor
    California Labor Secretary Julie A. Su released an open letter today that contains more information on the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program, which extends unemployment benefits to the self-employed and independent contractors. In this letter, Secretary Su announced the California Employment Development Department (EDD) will need an additional two weeks to have the application system up and running. Once the system goes live, she anticipates individuals will be able to receive payments within 24 to 48 hours of their applications being approved.
  • As part of the CARES Act, California will be implementing the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program through the Employment Development Department, independent contractors are eligble to apply as well. Due to the fact that the state has never previously implemented a program similar before, it is not up and running yet, but should be soon.
  • Click Here for More Information on the CA EDD Pandemic Unemployment Assistance
  • Governor Newsom has requested the legislature work on emergency bills to draw resources from the General Fund to provide immediate assistance regarding the COVID-19 Crisis, which may include small business support.
  • The CA Franchise Tax Board announced that state tax filings and payments deadline has been delayed until July 15, 2020. Click Here for More Information
  • CA IBank Small Business Finance Center’s loan guarantee programs are designed for Disaster Relief specifically. It is currently available to small businesses needing assistance to overcome economic injury caused by COVID-19. Click Here for More Information
  • CA EDD Rapid Response Program can provide small businesses with guidance and assistance to help prevent massive layoffs and closures. Click Here for More Information
Regional Resources

Updated 3/20:

County Business Liaison COVID-19 Resources
cboliaison@eoc.sccgov.org
CBO/Business Liaison
County of Santa Clara Emergency Operations Center
Website: http://sccphd.org/coronavirus
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sccpublichealth/
Instagram: @scc_publichealth
Twitter: @HealthySCC

Local Resources

Updated 3/20:

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