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Housing Resource Center outlines eviction-prevention aid and landlord incentives; mixed public comment follows
Summary
The Housing Resource Center presented countywide programs that help at-risk households with eviction prevention, rental move‑in costs and landlord incentives; council and the public asked about local access, eligibility and the loss of a city renter‑assistance program. A public commenter made an unresolved allegation about misuse of voucher data.
Jonathan Amati, chair of the Housing Resource Center (HRC) community engagement committee, told the Monterey City Council that HRC works with people who are recently homeless or at imminent risk of losing their housing and that all clients are referred through partner agencies.
Amati said HRC provides a mix of services, including payment of past-due rent, rental application fees, first month’s rent and security deposits. He described a coordinated-entry points system used to prioritize households and said HRC assigns case managers for intake and housing specialists to work with landlords to place clients. "We have a landlord gold standard program" that offers a $1,000 incentive for landlords bringing in an HRC client for the first time and up to $2,000 for unit repairs, Amati said. HRC also offers wraparound supports from donor funds, such as car repairs and groceries, to help clients stabilize.
The presentation listed four core programs HRC administers or applies for: the Housing Support Program (for CalWORKs recipients), the Family Stabilization Program (also tied to CalWORKs), the now-ended Prop 47 program for formerly incarcerated people, and a county program to help families connected to child‑protective services find housing.
Council members and staff asked practical questions about HRC’s office location and how Peninsula residents can access services; Amati said the HRC’s office is in Salinas (regular business hours 8 a.m.–5 p.m.) but staff work across the county and will set up appointments or meet clients on the Peninsula when needed. He emphasized HRC’s relationships with caseworkers for CalWORKs and CPS and with many county partners that refer clients.
Public comment included broad praise for HRC’s landlord outreach and creative fundraising. One caller who identified herself as Sabrina Lee McPherson made urgent, specific allegations about how her personal and medical information was handled by the housing authority and raised unrelated criminal‑justice claims; the council and staff did not offer an on‑the‑spot factual response and the allegation remained unresolved in the public record. Other commenters thanked council for past support of local renter‑assistance programs and urged restoration of city funds that some speakers said had been cut.
The presentation concluded with staff saying HRC will share landlord‑workshop dates with city staff and the public. No formal action was taken on the HRC item.
