(a) Establishment of Fund. The COVID-19 SRO Relief Fund (“Fund”) is hereby established as a category eight fund to provide financial support to owners and occupants of Residential Hotel units as defined in Administrative Code Section 41.4.
(b) Use of Fund. The Fund shall be used to provide payments to occupants of Residential Hotel units who have been unable to pay rent due to the financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, or to the landlords of units occupied by such persons.
(c) Sources of Funds. The Fund may receive any legally available monies appropriated or donated for the purpose set forth in subsection (b) including, but not limited to, funds appropriated by the Board of Supervisors, funding made available from the federal or State governments, and private donations and grants.
(d) Administration of Fund.
(1) Responsible Agency. The Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development (MOHCD) shall administer the Fund, and may seek assistance of other City agencies including, but not limited to, the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing. In consultation with the Controller’s Office, the MOHCD Director or the Director’s designee shall adopt rules for the distribution of monies in the Fund consistent with the purpose set forth in subsection (b) and the criteria set forth in subsection (d)(2). MOHCD shall make these rules available on its website and at its office.
(2) Criteria for Disbursement. In consultation with the Controller’s Office, MOHCD’s rules regarding the distribution of monies from the Fund shall incorporate and develop the fol- lowing criteria:
(A) The amount of rent that the occupant’s household owes;
(B) The degree to which the occupant’s household has been financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic;
(C) Whether the occupant’s household does not qualify for funding or payments provided by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020 (P.L. 116-136), or other federal or state or local assistance programs specific to the COVID-19 pandemic, due to the occupant or a member of the household’s citizenship or immigration status, lack of a social security number, tax return filing history, or other factor unrelated to need;
(D) Whether the occupant is in good standing with the owner, other than with respect to the unpaid rent, and is unlikely to face eviction for reasons unrelated to rent; and
(E) The degree to which contributions from the Fund may reduce existing public assistance benefits that would otherwise be available.
(3) Outside Consultation. MOHCD may consult with organizations representing the interests of SRO owners and residents regarding its implementation of this Section 10.100-51.
(Added by Ord. 89-20, File No. 200457, App. 6/12/2020, Eff. 7/13/2020)