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 County area median income, a signed lease or rental application and that utility assistance be paid only when the applicant’s name appears on the utility bill.

Latrice Taylor, senior director of programs and services at Samaritan House, described the organization’s existing countywide role in emergency financial assistance and case management: “For over 51 years, Samaritan House has served those seeking the most basic core services of food, clothing, and housing resources.” Taylor said Samaritan House pays vendors and utilities directly and provides follow-up services such as referrals to legal aid, clinics and workforce programs.

Public commenters largely supported the program while urging clarity on outreach and eligibility for hard-to-reach households. Carol Eldridge of Our Home San Mateo commended the council: “I am especially glad to hear that there will be a full $150,000 available for resident support,” she said, and urged stronger relocation assistance and longer-term supports to prevent displacement. Reverend Alvaro Duran of the Congregational Church of San Mateo asked how the program will reach people who lack traditional documentation, such as those who sublet or are undocumented.

Community members and advisers pressed staff to prioritize early outreach to landlords and to define what qualifies as “critical need.” Mitch Spiegel, speaking from the virtual audience, urged the council to require early owner engagement and clearer documentation standards: “I would just ask council urge staff or direct staff to add more nuance to this process,” Spiegel said, recommending that applicants seek help before arrears accumulate.

City staff and Samaritan House representatives said the partner agency will use intake, documentation review and case management to balance fiscal stewardship with access. Taylor said Samaritan House has existing partnerships with landlord groups and the county’s core service network to help identify resources and make vendor payments quickly.

After discussion, the council voted to adopt the resolution establishing the program, appropriate $168,000 from the low- and moderate-income asset fund for FY 2025–26, approve the agreement with Samaritan House to administer the program, and authorize the city manager to execute the agreement in substantially the form presented. The motion passed 5-0.

The program is explicitly described in staff materials as a pilot for one year (term proposed 08/01/2025–07/31/2026) with quarterly expense reimbursements and progress reports from Samaritan House to the city. Staff identified the housing successor fund (low- and moderate-income asset fund) as the likely funding source and noted the pilot is intended to align with the city’s 2023 housing element goals on anti-displacement and MTC’s Transit Oriented Communities policies.

Council members asked staff to return with implementation details and to monitor outreach results and eligibility barriers during the pilot year.