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The San Diego region received $211 million in state and federal funds to help low-income tenants and landlords who were financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, data obtained by inewsource in mid-May revealed that only 2% of that money has been sent out to eligible residents, reports CBS8.
The state of California is holding local agencies to a September 30 deadline to commit 65% of the available funding.
The San Diego Housing Commission sent an urgent letter to Governor Gavin Newsom last month. The housing agency's president and CEO Rick Gentry, said unless changes are made to the program the city will "not be able to expend all of the available funding within the limited time allowed."
According to CBS8, officials are running into similar issues they encountered during the first COVID-19 rental assistance programs which is landlords aren't taking the money and the application process is moving very slowly.
The rental and utility assistance programs are meant for those impacted the most by the pandemic. To be eligible tenants must have a household income below $97,000 for a family of four and be able to show proof of financial hardship due to the pandemic (like unemployment).
According to records, the county's average rent payment is nearly $3,600 and the city of San Diego's average is close to $5,300.