What is the Small Property Owners Assistance Program?

The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors has dedicated $2 million to establish a grant program for small-scale residential rental property owners in the County who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

What are the grant amounts?

The amount of each grant is based on demonstrated lost rental income during the period of April 1, 2020 through August 31, 2020 for a qualifying unit and, therefore, actual grant amounts will vary. However, the maximum grant amount for each qualifying unit is $6,000.

Do the grants need to be repaid?

No. The Small Property Owners Assistance grants do not need to be repaid. However, property owners who do not comply with grant conditions/requirements (explained below) may be subject legal action, including repayment of any grant proceeds received.

Who is eligible for grants?

To qualify for grants, property owners must meet all of the following criteria:

• Live in San Mateo County, including within any incorporated city or unincorporated area of the County; and
• Lease/rent residential rental properties in San Mateo County, including within any incorporated city or unincorporated area of the County

What rental units are eligible for grant relief?

To be eligible for relief, rental units must meet all of the following criteria:

• Be located in San Mateo County, including within any incorporated city or unincorporated area of the County; and
• Was occupied, during the period of April 1 through August 31, 2020, by tenant(s) who had occupied the unit for at least 30 days (short-term and vacation rental properties are not eligible for relief); and
• The tenant(s) of the unit have paid less than the full rent due during the period of April 1 through August 31, 2020 as a result of COVID-19, resulting in a loss of rental income to the property owner(s); and
• Must not have code violations or unaddressed public liens

Can a property owner apply for grants for multiple units?

Yes. A property owner can apply for up to 10 eligible units.

What are the rent waiver conditions of the grant?

Grant recipients will be required to discharge back rent owed by tenants of qualifying units equal to the amount of demonstrated rental losses between April 1 and August 31, 2020, up to a maximum discharge amount of $7,500 per qualifying unit. The grant amount is equal to 80 percent of the back-rent discharge amount (up to the maximum of $7,500), up to a maximum grant of $6,000 per qualifying unit ($7,500 – 20% = $6,000). Please see the examples below:

• Example #1: $5,000 in rental losses, $5,000 back-rent discharge, $4,000 awarded grant, $0 back-rent owed by renter
• Example #2: $7,500 in rental losses, $7,500 back-rent discharge, $6,000 awarded grant, $0 back-rent owed by renter
• Example #3: $10,000 in rental losses, $7,500 back-rent discharge, $6,000 awarded grant, $2,500 back-rent continues to be owed by renter

How will grants be paid to qualifying property owners?

Grants will be paid by check issued by San Mateo Credit Union Community Fund and sent to the address listed on the W-9 submitted with the application.

How can property owners apply?

Online applications for the Small Property Owners Assistance Program will be accepted at www.smcstrong.org/smallpropertyownergrant. The application period will open October 15, 2020. The application and any updates will be posted at www.smcstrong.org/smallpropertyownergrant.

How long will applications be accepted?

The initial application period will be open through November 25, 2020. All applications received during that period will be reviewed. If there are funds remaining after applications have been processed from the first two-week application period, there will be a second application period.

Is the program first come, first served?

No. All applications received within the initial two-week application window will be considered at the end of the application period, and grantmaking decisions will not be based on the order of submission.

Will priority be given to certain eligible units?

Yes. All applications will be reviewed for eligibility, and eligible units will be prioritized based on two factors: 1) location within priority zip codes having high poverty and COVID-19 infection rates, and 2) the ratio of rental loss to the property owner’s income.

What information will a property owner need to submit for the application?

• Νame and address;
• Full tax returns from 2018 and 2019;
• Completed W-9.

How will I know the financial information I submit with my application is secure?

A secure online portal has been created for submission of the application and all supporting applicant confidential financial documentation. San Mateo Credit Union Community Fund is conducting the underwriting for this grant program, and all applicant information reviewed by the Community Fund will be subject to the Credit Union’s privacy policy (www.smcu.org/Financial-Wellness/Security/Privacy-Center/Privacy-Policy).

What is the Small Property Owners Assistance Program?

The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors has dedicated $2 million to establish a grant program for small-scale residential rental property owners in the County who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

What are the grant amounts?

The amount of each grant is based on demonstrated lost rental income during the period of April 1, 2020 through August 31, 2020 for a qualifying unit and, therefore, actual grant amounts will vary. However, the maximum grant amount for each qualifying unit is $6,000.

Do the grants need to be repaid?

No. The Small Property Owners Assistance grants do not need to be repaid. However, property owners who do not comply with grant conditions/requirements (explained below) may be subject legal action, including repayment of any grant proceeds received.

Who is eligible for grants?

To qualify for grants, property owners must meet all of the following criteria:

• Live in San Mateo County, including within any incorporated city or unincorporated area of the County; and
• Lease/rent residential rental properties in San Mateo County, including within any incorporated city or unincorporated area of the County

What rental units are eligible for grant relief?

To be eligible for relief, rental units must meet all of the following criteria:

• Be located in San Mateo County, including within any incorporated city or unincorporated area of the County; and
• Was occupied, during the period of April 1 through August 31, 2020, by tenant(s) who had occupied the unit for at least 30 days (short-term and vacation rental properties are not eligible for relief); and
• The tenant(s) of the unit have paid less than the full rent due during the period of April 1 through August 31, 2020 as a result of COVID-19, resulting in a loss of rental income to the property owner(s); and
• Must not have code violations or unaddressed public liens

Can a property owner apply for grants for multiple units?

Yes. A property owner can apply for up to 10 eligible units.

What are the rent waiver conditions of the grant?

Grant recipients will be required to discharge back rent owed by tenants of qualifying units equal to the amount of demonstrated rental losses between April 1 and August 31, 2020, up to a maximum discharge amount of $7,500 per qualifying unit. The grant amount is equal to 80 percent of the back-rent discharge amount (up to the maximum of $7,500), up to a maximum grant of $6,000 per qualifying unit ($7,500 – 20% = $6,000). Please see the examples below:

• Example #1: $5,000 in rental losses, $5,000 back-rent discharge, $4,000 awarded grant, $0 back-rent owed by renter
• Example #2: $7,500 in rental losses, $7,500 back-rent discharge, $6,000 awarded grant, $0 back-rent owed by renter
• Example #3: $10,000 in rental losses, $7,500 back-rent discharge, $6,000 awarded grant, $2,500 back-rent continues to be owed by renter

How will grants be paid to qualifying property owners?

Grants will be paid by check issued by San Mateo Credit Union Community Fund and sent to the address listed on the W-9 submitted with the application.