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Orange County approves $298,783 SAFE arrears program to prevent evictions
Summary
Orange County accepted and appropriated $298,783 in state funds to create the Shelter Arrears Eviction for Installment (SAFE) program to help eligible households repay up to six months of past-due shelter arrears and avoid eviction.
Orange County accepted and appropriated $298,783 from state funds to establish the Shelter Arrears Eviction for Installment program, called SAFE, aimed at helping eligible households repay shelter arrears and avoid eviction.
County staff said SAFE carries no local funds, provides up to six months of arrears per household (months need not be consecutive) and is intended for families and individuals who first apply for Emergency Assistance to Families or Emergency Safety Net Assistance and are found ineligible for those programs. Income eligibility was described as matching the other emergency assistance programs, currently at or below 200% of the federal poverty level.
County staff explained the six-month limit applies over the lifetime of the allocation described for that program instance; additional transfers of state funds would create new allocations on the same program line. Staff also said there is a cap on individual awards that is higher than some other programs, but the exact per-household maximum was not specified during the discussion. The program is funded through state appropriations and county staff said each state fiscal year would have a separate allocation amount.
The board approved the legislative request to accept and appropriate the $298,783 for the SAFE program by voice vote; recorded tallies were not specified in the meeting record.
Why it matters: The county described SAFE as a short-term arrears repayment program meant to stop evictions and reduce new entries to homelessness by addressing past-due shelter bills rather than providing ongoing rental assistance.
The county did not provide a firm per-household dollar cap on the record and said applicants must first pursue other emergency assistance options before being assessed for SAFE. Staff said program eligibility and funding availability will be tied to state allocations and that future transfers could add funding to the same program line.
