LA County Rent Relief Program: Supporting Housing Stability and Recovery
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, thousands of Los Angeles County tenants struggled to keep up with rent as illness, job losses, and reduced incomes caused unexpected and overwhelming financial hardships. Without support, many tenants faced the risk of eviction and housing instability, while landlords – especially those in high and highest need areas – faced the possibility of losing their rental properties, many of which have historically provided much of the affordable housing in their neighborhoods.
To close the gap, the Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs (DCBA) launched the LA County Rent Relief Program (LARRP), administered by our partners from The Center by Lendistry (TCbL). The program offered targeted support where it was needed most during two rounds of applications, which provided grants of up to $30,000 per rental unit for past due rent and eligible expenses dating back to April 1, 2022.
Through the LA County Rent Relief Program:
• More than $81 million in direct financial relief was distributed to landlords; and
• 4,430 total rent relief awards were granted, keeping thousands of tenants housed.
Of the rent relief grants awarded:
- 30% went to small “mom-and-pop” landlords owning no more than four (4) properties;
- 55% went to landlords and properties located in the high and highest need areas as defined and identified by the COVID-19 Vulnerability and Recovery Index;
- 99% supported low-income households (landlords or tenants with a household income of 80% or below the LA County Area Median Income)
Behind every one of these awards were real people: families trying to stay housed, a small property owner trying to keep their property afloat, and a community working to recover. To capture these stories, DCBA and program partner, The Center by Lendistry, produced a video series featuring landlords and tenants whose lives were transformed by the assistance. These testimonials highlight the real-world impact of targeted relief and the importance of public investment and meaningful community partnerships in times of crisis and can be viewed here.
The program didn’t just provide emergency relief; it also created a model for rapid response. When wildfires and windstorms struck Los Angeles County in January 2025, DCBA adapted the Rent Relief Program framework to launch the Household Relief Grant (HRG) initiative. Within just four weeks, applications were live, and the first grants were issued in less than five weeks, proving that lessons learned from the pandemic recovery strengthened the County’s ability to act quickly in a crisis.
The systems developed and partnerships formed through the program will continue to help DCBA respond faster, smarter, and more equitably in future emergencies, while ensuring that residents and small landlords have the support they need to recover and thrive. For more information about DCBA’s housing and tenant protections programs, visit dcba.lacounty.gov or call (800) 593-8222.