Assemblymember Richard Bloom (D-Santa Monica) applauded Governor Newsom’s swift action in signing AB 832, California’s most comprehensive COVID-19 renter protection bill to date.
Coauthored by Assemblymember Bloom, AB 832 extends the statewide eviction moratorium through September 30, while simultaneously providing financial relief to struggling tenants and their affected landlords.
AB 832, joint-authored by Assemblymember Bloom, creates a process to ensure that from October 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022, struggling tenants impacted by COVID-19 will still be protected under state
law. Additionally, the bill will permanently mask unlawful eviction cases related to COVID-19 rental debt, thus protecting tenants from having unpaid rental debt due to COVID-19 held against them when they seek future housing.
“Ensuring that California’s renters aren’t penalized in the long run for financial factors that were largely out of their control was of the utmost importance,” said Assemblymember Bloom,
The signing of AB 832 does more than offer relief and protections for California’s tenants – it also increases rental assistance payments to give 100% of rent owed by tenants to eligible landlords. Under the previous SB 91 framework, landlords received 80% and were required to forgive 20%. Under AB 832, applicants who already applied/received funds will automatically get the additional funds to cover 100% of rent owed, including tenants previously paid 25%.
“As we begin to return to some sense of normalcy, we must remember that the reopening of California does not mean the end of suffering for millions of Californians,” Assemblymember Bloom continued, “While the economic and emotional scars inflicted by the pandemic will last for years to come, the people of California can continue to count on their government to mitigate the proverbial aftershocks of this once-in-a-century pandemic.”
Submitted by Bloom’s office
