Dear friends,
The application deadline for the COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program and the end of the state’s eviction moratorium is only a few days away - Thursday, March 31, 2022. Housing stabilization is critical to preventing tenants from experiencing homelessness, so we encourage you to apply and spread the word. It’s important to know that it’s not guaranteed that all who apply will get funding, and priority goes to the first applicants who are most at risk of eviction. Additionally, state legislators are working on extending eviction protections for tenants with a pending ERAP application, with protections extended for an additional THREE months, so long as an application is submitted by March 31. We encourage you to see if you are eligible, and reach out to our staff if you have questions or need help checking on your application status.
Another way we’re supporting tenants now is by engaging the Antioch City Council to enact rent control, just cause for eviction, and landlord harassment protections. We know that Antioch has the highest eviction rate in the Bay Area, so it is critical that we act now. We encourage Antioch tenants to get involved in our outreach efforts, so please follow us on social media, and keep an eye out for our newsletters for the latest updates.
In addition to fighting for local protections, we are helping voters get registered. We encourage families with 18-year-olds to help them register as soon as they can, as the state primaries are coming up in June, and the state general election in November.
We have many exciting things in the works over these next few weeks and are looking forward to continuing to offer all kinds of services and expand our reach all over Contra Costa County. Thank you for your support!
In community,
Debra Ballinger, Executive Director
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Apply for Emergency Rental Assistance - Deadline: March 31 |
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The CA COVID-19 Rent Relief program is prioritizing applications based on highest risk of eviction and time of submission. Apply at HousingIsKey.com before March 31, 2022. As a reminder, immigration status is not a requirement for eligibility, and our staff are here to help.
As part of the Local Partner Network, we have team members, who speak English and Spanish, ready to navigate you through the application process. Email us at housing@monumentimpact.org with the subject line: ERAP or call us at (925) 954-4488 to book an appointment.
Utility bill assistance for trash, electricity, gas, and internet is also available. For water, check with your water utility company to see if you are eligible for their assistance programs.
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We are excited to announce that both of our offices are officially open and ready to serve you. Check out our hours below. We hope to see you soon!
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Nosotros - H.O.M.E.S. Art Project Update |
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Earlier this month, our H.O.M.E.S. youth art program participants and director Nick Garica performed their first play called Nosotros - highlighting the residents of the fictional Wellington Gardens apartment complex who discover their true collective power and fight to stay in their apartments. The show was described by those who attended as “moving, emotional, inspirational, and one of a kind.” We would like to congratulate the actors, writers, and director for an incredible production. We sold out both shows and have had requests for more showings in the future, so stay tuned!
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“The play was hitting deep truths. I cry when a great truth hits home – not because I’m sad.”
-a Nosotros attendee
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2022 New Voters Project and Antioch Organizing Fellows |
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We are launching our 2022 New Voter Project and seeking Get Out the Vote (GOTV) Campaign interns to help register new voters for the 2022 primary and general elections. Each intern will work alongside our staff and develop skills in community organizing. Apply now!
We are also hiring two part-time organizing fellows for our Antioch office. Each fellow will have the opportunity to learn and gain a better understanding of social justice issues that impact communities of color and develop leadership skills. Apply now!
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Coming Soon
3501 Lone Tree Way
Antioch, CA 94509
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We are making great progress on the construction of our Antioch office, and we would love your help! We are seeking new and/or used office furniture items.
Here’s our wishlist:
- Desks
- White boards
- Conference table and chairs
- Community room tables and chairs
If you have any questions and/or would like to make a donation, please give us a call at (925) 682-8248 ext. 2300.
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Meet Our Newest Staff Member |
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Meet Kiomi, our newest communications intern, supporting our marketing, communications, and social media. Before joining us, she studied audiovisual communication and was a youth advisor at a pastoral community and interned as a production assistant.
She was inspired to join Monument Impact to use her skills to support our outreach efforts and provide community members with the resources they need. She looks forward to growing professionally and personally while also supporting her community.
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Protecting Tenants From Landlord Harassment |
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Leticia DeRouen is a tenant and has lived in Concord for 20 years. Prior to the pandemic, Leticia experienced homelessness and had difficulty seeking housing in Concord. Later, she finally secured housing, but her building landlord suddenly changed and was refusing to fix her stove and refrigerator - forcing her to pay for a replacement fridge while trying to keep up with rent. Additionally, she injured her leg at work during the pandemic, which caused her to go on leave and miss rent payments.
Leticia searched for resources and applied to the California Emergency Rental Assistance Program. Her landlord kept rejecting her application, insisting that she was being a difficult tenant, even though this was untrue. Finally, Maria Miranda, our ERAP project manager, sent her landlord a letter, asking them to stop harassing Leticia and her family. Only then did her landlord start to comply.
Leticia shares her story in hopes of encouraging other tenants experiencing landlord harassment, especially as they are pending ERAP funds, to seek support and to learn about and exercise their rights.
We know from our work on a daily basis that tenants are still waiting far too long for answers and payments from ERAP. We urge policymakers to extend statewide eviction protections, extend the rent relief program, and streamline the application process so funds reach tenants in a timely manner.
Our community organizers are also advocating for an anti-harassment ordinance for the City of Concord to help tenants who were once in her shoes from experiencing these same challenges. Please reach out to Tony Bravo, our community organizing manager at tony@monumentImpact.org for more information on how you can get involved in our advocacy efforts.
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Emerging Business Support |
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Immigrant-owned businesses play a vital role in our local economy, and our emerging business program is here to set you up for success. Learn more about Soraya’s experience:
Soraya Martinez first joined our technology program in January 2019 to improve her house cleaning business. Our computer classes helped her manage income and expenses as well as keep track of the financial health of her business. Using her new skills, she also created a logo and an invoicing system.
She then learned about our Emerging Business Support Program and was inspired to fully launch her business, Ayaro’s Cleaning Services, in early 2019. She also learned how to promote her business on social media.
In December 2021, Soraya received a small business grant from Monument Impact, funded by Sutter Health, which she used to purchase cleaning equipment. Currently, she has 29 clients and her profits have doubled. She is now able to hire more employees and purchase worker’s compensation insurance.
Want to start your own business and don’t know how to get started? Call us, and we’ll guide you through the process. For more details, contact Edith Guillen at edith@monumentimpact.org or 925-682-8248 ext. 2105. Services available to Concord residents only. Find out more.
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“I am very grateful and appreciative to Monument Impact and their team. They believed in me and motivated me to grow. Everything in life can be achieved with faith and believing in yourself.” - Soraya Martinez
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