By Lookout Staff

July 22, 2026 -- Applications are now open for a financial aid program that provides one-time payments for vulnerable renters "experiencing a temporary housing crisis," City officials announced Wednesday.

Under the new Santa Monica Renter Aid program, residents at risk of "losing housing due to a financial emergency" can receive one-time payments of up to $5,000, and up to $10,000 per household to "support continued housing stability."

To qualify for aid, renters must live in Santa Monica and earn below 80 percent of Area Median Income, which is $67,200 of the $84,800 median income for a one-person household and $96,960 of the $121,200 income for a four-person household.

“Nobody should lose their home over one bad month," Mayor Caroline Torosis said in a statement. "Renter Aid puts roughly $6 million directly into the hands of Santa Monica renters who hit a rough patch."

The aid program also connects at-risk renters with The People Concern, the non-profit administering the program, "so a short-term crisis doesn’t turn into a long-term one,” Torosis said.

“Keeping people housed is more cost effective and more humane than helping them after they’ve already lost everything,” she said.

Priority will be given to low-income households, older adults, people with disabilities and families with minor children at greatest risk of homelessness, City officials said.

"Applicants will be required to provide documentation verifying eligibility criteria," officials said. "Assistance will not be guaranteed and depends on eligibility, priority criteria and funding availability."

The program will be primarily funded through Measure GS, a property transfer tax hike approved by Santa Monica voters in November 2022 that funds the City's homelessness prevention efforts.

In its first year, the program will use $7 million of the money generated, as well as another $1 million in one-time Prohousing Incentive Program grant funding from the State.

Residents who need help completing an application can attend free in-person application support hours through August 20 at Virginia Avenue Park's Center Building Tuesdays from 3 to 7 p.m. and on Thursday's from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the Main Library Downtown.

Representatives from The People Concern will also be available at the State of the City event tomorrow from 4 to 7 p.m. on Main Street to answer questions and provide information about Santa Monica Renter Aid.

Paper applications, multilingual assistance and accessibility accommodations are available during in-person application support hours.

For more information about the program or application process, visit santamonica.gov or contact santamonicarenteraid@thepeopleconcern.org.