Financial Help
If you have been financially affected by COVID-19, you may be eligible for:
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Unemployment insurance
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Paid family leave
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Disability Insurance
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Relief from financial institutions
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Statewide moratorium on evictions
Learn more in this chart of benefits available for workers affected by COVID-19 and see published resources for workers affected by COVID-19.
Contact the Verdugo Jobs Center
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Phone: (818) 937-8000
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Website: Glendaleca.gov/VJC
Glendale Eviction Moratorium and Rent Increase Freeze
On March 24, 2020, the Glendale City Council issued an Emergency Order which implemented a number of measures designed to protect the Glendale public and contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Among them are temporary moratoriums on evictions on residential and commercial tenancies for non-payment of rent for tenants who are unable to pay rent due to circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic and a temporary moratorium on rent increases for residential tenancies. March 27, 2020, Governor Newsom issued Executive Order N-37-20, which also impacts evictions of residential tenancies. On April 6, 2020, the California Judicial Council issued Emergency Order No. 1, which impacts the filing of unlawful detainer complaints. We encourage you to review both orders in their entirety.
Prohibition Against Evictions: (Residential and Commercial Tenancies)
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Landlords cannot file an unlawful detainer action against either residential or commercial tenants who are unable to pay rent due to circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Tenants must provide documentation to demonstrate the reason for their inability to pay rent and its relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. Such circumstances include:
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Loss of income due to a COVID-19 related workplace closure or reduction in hours or activities,
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Child care expenditures due to school closures,
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Health care expenses related to being ill with COVID-19 or caring for a member of the tenant’s household who is ill with COVID-19, or
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Reasonable expenditures that stem from government-ordered emergency measures.
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Please note that the California Judicial Council has expanded that restriction to state that no complaint for unlawful detainer may be filed, unless it is necessary to protect public health and safety.
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For commercial tenants, a written notice of a tenant’s inability to pay rent must be provided to the landlord in writing 14 days prior to when the rent is due, except for rent due for the month of April in which case said notice shall be made as soon as practicable. These orders are in effect until April 30, 2020 but may be further extended if necessary.
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For residential tenants, a written notice of a tenant’s inability to pay rent must be provided to the landlord in writing before the rent is due or within a reasonable period of time thereafter, not to exceed 7 days. The documentation to support deferring rent may be provided to the landlord no later than the time upon payment of back-due rent. These orders are in effect until May 31, 2020 but may be further extended if necessary.
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Tenants will have up to 12 months after the expiration of the emergency order to pay any rent that was deferred because of the COVID 19 circumstances.
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This prohibition does not apply to evictions established prior to the effective date.
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A landlord may not charge or collect late charges, fees, or interest on unpaid rent, or engage in any harassing behavior in an attempt to collect deferred rent, when payment of rent is delayed during the period of this emergency.
Rent Increase Prohibition/Rent Freeze: (Residential Tenancies Only)
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Rents are frozen effective March 24, 2020 regardless of when a rent increase notice was previously served.
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Landlords may not issue new rent increases until the expiration of the emergency order, even if the increase is effective after the expiration of the order.
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Any rent increase issued between March 25, 2020 and the expiration of the emergency order will need to be reissued once the order has expired.
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The rent freeze applies to all residential rentals in the City of Glendale, except apartments built after February 1, 1995, individual condominium units, and single family dwelling. It also applies to accessory dwelling units and hotel rooms being rented as extended stays.
The rent freeze prohibition is in effect until April 30, 2020 but may be further extended if necessary.
For questions about the rent freeze and eviction moratorium, please call (818) 548-3926 or email at Rent@glendaleca.gov
Extension of all Emergency Orders to April 30, 2020
Glendale's Eviction Moratorium
Glendale's Rent Increase Freeze
Glendale Water and Power
Glendale Water and Power will not shut off or stop service due to non-payment through the end of April.
Helping Hand
GWP bill payment or deposit assistance for low-income customers.
What is the Helping Hand Program?
The Helping Hand Program assists eligible low-income customers who are experiencing a temporary financial emergency and having trouble paying for their utility services providing up to $150 towards a bill payment or deposit.
In order to receive Helping Hand assistance you must meet the following requirements:
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Must be a GWP residential customer with an open account on or before April 1, 2020 (Not required for deposit assistance).
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Service must be connected and have received notice of delinquent payment.
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Must have one or more of the documented temporary financial emergencies listed below. Customers must be able to provide documentation of the stated emergency. This documentation has to verify that costs to the customer exceed the cost of their GWP bill or deposit, and must have occurred within the previous 2 months from the date of application.
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Unexpected medical, medical supply, and/or pharmaceutical expenses - customers must provide receipt(s) for doctor’s visit, hospital stay, prescriptions or medical supplies.
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There has been a death in family – customers must provide a copy of the death certificate.
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Unemployment – this includes being laid off, furloughed, experiencing a reduction of hours, or being terminated. Customers must provide proof of termination, copy of unemployment award letter, or paycheck stubs that show reduced hours. Self-employed customers and/or customer’s not otherwise eligible for unemployment insurance must provide signed statement documenting lost income.
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Customers are required to submit supporting documentation within 30 days to maintain eligibility.
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Starting April 1, 2020, customers may only receive Helping Hand assistance once in any 12 month period from date of application approval.
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Customers that fail to pay their bill in full, fail to provide supporting documentation, are found to be ineligible, or who have submitted false information will be removed from the program and any benefits received will be charged on the next bill.
Generally, applicants must have a total gross household income at or below income eligibility guidelines listed below or provide similar proof of low-income status such as enrollment in GWP Senior Care or Glendale Care Program, Section 8, or letter of certification from a local community-based organization. In cases of recent unemployment or self-employed suffering recent lost income, household income eligibility will be determined based on current/projected adjusted gross income for the coming year, i.e., last year’s adjusted gross income for tax purposes less lost income from recent unemployment, reduction in work hours, and/or other lost income from self-employment.
Income Eligibility Requirements
HOUSEHOLD SIZE ANNUAL INCOME ELIGIBILITY LIMIT
1-2 $33,820
3 $42,660
4 $51,500
5 $60,340
6 $69,180
7 $78,120
8 $86,860
Each Additional Person $8,840
To apply for Helping Hand, download the application here, fill in the application, and email it to GWPrateassistance@GlendaleCA.gov along with any required documents. If you would like an application mailed to you, please call 818-548-3368.
This program may be modified or terminated without prior notice and is provided to qualified customers on a first-come, first-served basis until program funds are no longer available.
City Late Fees Waived
All late fees for City-provided services accrued during the emergency period will be waived.
Southern California Gas Company
Southern California Gas Company suspended service disconnections until further notice due to non-payment.
Mortgage and Bill Relief from Financial Institutions:
The State of California is working to soften the financial impact of COVID-19 on residents who are struggling to pay their mortgage and bills. Citigroup, JP Morgan Chase, US Bank, Wells Fargo, and nearly 200 state-chartered banks, credit unions, and servicers have committed to providing relief for consumers and homeowners in California.
Under the Governor’s proposal, Californians who are struggling with the COVID-19 crisis may be eligible for the following relief after contacting their financial institution:
90-day grace period for all mortgage payments
If you are impacted by COVID-19, these financial institutions will offer mortgage-payment forbearances of up to 90 days, which allow you to reduce or delay your monthly mortgage payment. In addition, they will:
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Give you a streamlined process for requesting forbearance for COVID-19-related reasons, supported with available documentation;
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Confirm approval of and terms of forbearance program; and
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Provide you the opportunity to extend your forbearance agreement if you continue to experience hardship due to COVID-19.
Relief from fees and charges for 90 days
For at least 90 days, financial institutions will waive or refund mortgage-related late fees and other fees including early CD withdrawals.
No new foreclosures for 60 days
Financial institutions will not start any foreclosure sales or evictions.
No credit score changes for accessing relief
If you are taking advantage of this COVID-19-related relief, late or missed payments will not be shared with credit reporting agencies.
YOU SHOULD CONTACT AND WORK DIRECTLY WITH YOUR MORTGAGE SERVICER TO LEARN ABOUT AND APPLY FOR AVAILABLE RELIEF.