San Mateo Council approves $168,000 pilot emergency rental assistance program, contracts with Samaritan House

San Mateo City Council on Monday adopted a one-year emergency rental assistance pilot program and approved a contract with Samaritan House to run the program, voting 5-0 to appropriate $168,000 from the city’s low- and moderate-income asset fund for fiscal year 2025–26.

City housing specialist Jennifer Mora told the council the pilot is designed to prevent displacement by covering short-term rent, security deposits and utilities for eligible San Mateo residents, and to provide case-management wraparound services through a local partner. “Assistance payments will be made directly to landlords, property managers, and or utility companies,” Mora said during the presentation.

The pilot budget breaks down as $150,000 for direct client assistance and $18,000 for administration, with an annual household cap set at $4,000 to serve an estimated 37 households in a fiscal year. Mora said eligibility requires city residency, household gross income at or below 60 percent of San Mateo…