Dear friends,
California’s eviction moratorium has officially ended as of Oct. 1, but the California Emergency Rental Assistance Program is still accepting applications. Tenants, regardless of immigration status, can apply for rent and utilities debt assistance and stay protected from eviction through March 2022 by showing confirmation to their landlords.
Our staff are working hard to ensure as many eligible tenants apply for rent relief funds. If you or someone you know needs assistance with their application, please contact us at (925) 954-4488 or [email protected].
Despite the state’s rent debt-forgiveness program, landlords are continuing to harass tenants and pressuring them to self-vacate in hopes of raising rents. This harassment can look like refusing to complete repairs, shutting off utilities, and in worst cases - entering without notice or threatening to harm tenants. You can read more about this issue, featuring a story from community member Guillermina, in our op-ed with Centro Legal de la Raza.
No one has the right to harass a tenant in pursuit of profit. Now is the time for Concord City Council to act and protect its residents. By enacting a strong anti-harassment ordinance that keeps landlords honest, we’ll give immigrants, refugees and people of color a fighting chance to stay rooted in their homes - and take a big step towards Concord communities where fundamental respect lives strong.
We’re continuing to work with our community allies to engage the Concord City Council and mobilize advocates and community members. As this develops, we encourage you to raise awareness and drive support by sharing our content on social media and being a part of community engagement opportunities.
We look forward to sharing more developments and calls to action in the near future. Follow us on social media (Twitter / Facebook / Instagram), check your inboxes for our email blasts, and share these opportunities with your networks.
In community,
Debra Ballinger, Executive Director
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Apply for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) |
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Both tenants (regardless of immigration status) and landlords can still apply to the California Rent Relief Program to receive 100% assistance in back rent and utilities from April 2020 through October 2021. Additionally, you may apply for future months of rent needed.
Despite the end of the eviction moratorium, landlords MUST apply for rental assistance before they can try to evict a tenant through the courts for failing to pay their rent.
If you are a tenant and have already applied for the program, you may request a letter certifying your participation in the program by calling (833) 430-2122 and providing your case ID number. Applicants CANNOT be evicted if you inform and show documentation of your application with your landlord within 15 days of an eviction notice.
If you are a tenant or landlord who needs assistance with the application, contact Monument Impact at (925) 954-4488 to schedule an in-person appointment.
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Due to the end of the eviction moratorium, we want to make sure all renters in Contra Costa County know their rights. Starting in November, we will host “Know Your Rights” workshops for all as part of our legal clinics, before transitioning to one-on-one appointments with attorneys. Learn more by reading our tenant information sheet here.
To book an appointment, contact:
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Karen Hernandez
Community Organizer
Concord & Central County
(925) 682-8248 x 2210
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Jennifer Morales
Lead Community Organizer
Antioch & East County
(925) 315-5154
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Tony Bravo
Community Engagement Manager
(925) 400-7977
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National Day of Protest - Justice for Black Asylum Seekers |
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Last Thursday was the National Day of Protest, organized by the Haitian Bridge Alliance, Black Alliance for Just Immigration, and the UndocuBlack Network. We joined the Contra Costa Immigrant Rights Alliance (CCIRA) alongside allies, advocates, community members, and Supervisor Hillary Ronen to rally at the San Francisco City Hall. Together, we demanded an end to Title 42 expulsions and other federal policies that harm Haitian and other Black asylum seekers.
Reach out to Kimberly Galindo, CCIRA Manager, at [email protected] to get involved in upcoming advocacy efforts.
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Community Land Trust Event Recap |
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On Sept. 30, our community engagement team concluded its housing justice series with a panel led by Richmond Land, Oakland Community Land Trust, and El Sereno Community Land Trust.
Community land trusts are nonprofit organizations that acquire land and steward it for the benefit of communities with low-incomes. With the event coinciding with the end of the eviction moratorium, we discussed how land trusts can fight displacement and preserve communities.
We hope this panel inspires you to keep community land in community hands! In case you missed it, you can watch the recording here (password: Vw@13WG?).
Learn more about community land trusts as an affordable housing option with these informative videos:
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Monument Impact’s new program, H.O.M.E.S., has officially started! Home Offers Me Escape and Safety gathers local young adults to utilize art in exploring what home means to them.
The throughline from all our participants’ varied experiences was clear: Home doesn’t always provide escape and safety. Read one of their stories below:
“I was informed that I was undocumented. In a moment’s notice, everything fell apart. My visions of the future vanished. I couldn’t get a job. I was a criminal, a fraud, an enemy of the state. I felt that I could no longer do anything with my life, and worst, was the fear it had instilled in me: the potential threat that I would be in danger of deportation around every corner. Technically, my home was not my home.”
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Halloween Zumbathon with Monument Moves |
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Join Monument Moves for a Halloween-themed Zumba party! We invite anyone attending to wear their Halloween costume. For a weekly schedule of our dance and exercise classes, click here.
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DATE: Saturday, October 30, 2021
TIME: 8:30 a.m.
LOCATION: Ellis Lake Park (1760 Clayton Road, Concord, CA 94520)
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Mentes Positivas en Acción |
Learn tools to manage stress and improve your mood with our Mentes Positivas en Acción course, designed to meet the needs of our community members from various cultural backgrounds.
Classes are only offered in Spanish and are hosted on Zoom. Please send a text with your name to (925) 222-5671 to sign up!
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Monument Impact’s Day Labor program has been running for over 20 years. If you need support with a small home project, consider hiring a day laborer.
Day laborers are available Monday to Saturday from 6-10 a.m. and have experience in painting, gardening/yard work, moving, home repairs, and more.
Contact Cristina Guerrero at (925) 682-8248 ext. 2100 to schedule a service.
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Monument Impact is now offering support for those looking to become U.S. citizens. Protection from deportation, voting rights, freedom to travel, opportunities to reunite with family, and overall stability are some of the many reasons to consider applying for citizenship.
Contact Cristina Guerrero at (925) 682-8248 ext. 2100 to schedule a consultation with an attorney. You may qualify for free services.
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Emerging Business Support |
Want to start your own business and don’t know how to get started? Call us, and we’ll gladly guide you through the process.
For more details, contact Edith Guillen at 925-682-8248 ext. 2105.
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We’re hiring an Asset-Building Manager to lead our workforce development programs. Read the job description here.
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