Fremont Rent Assistance Program, Small Business Grants

FREMONT, CA — The City of Fremont has come up with a program to help residents struggling to pay their rent because of the coronavirus economic slump. The Fremont Cares Rent Relief Program will provide up to three months of rental assistance, from March 17 to June 17. The City has set aside $400,000 for the program.

In addition, Fremont small businesses are eligible for a bailout. The Fremont Small Business Relief Grant Program will provide small businesses $5,000 or $10,000 grants. Another $400,000 has been set aside for that program.

The programs were unanimously approved by the City Council at the May 12 meeting.

“While these programs will bring much-needed relief to many Fremont community members and small businesses impacted by this pandemic, we know more investment is needed,” said Fremont Mayor Lily Mei. “The City will continue to advocate for critical resources for our community and actively pursue ways to support residents and local businesses during this unprecedented time.”

Here are details from the City on the programs.

Rent Relief for Fremont Residents

The Fremont Cares Rent Relief program will provide rental assistance to eligible households who are unable to pay their rent due to a COVID 19-related job loss or loss of income. In order to be eligible for the program, applicants must demonstrate their loss of employment and income is directly related to COVID-19; be a resident of Fremont; hold a lease in their name; and show their income was at or below 80% of Area Median Income on January 1, 2020. The City has a table online, when you apply, to show exactly how much money you may earn for the number of people in your household.

Applications will be weighted and scored due to applicant need with priorities given to: those at the lower end of the income scale; those who spend more than 30% of their household income for rent; single heads of household with minor children; those who have no additional resources for rental assistance; and those who may have special circumstances such as additional medical expenses due to COVID-19. The rent assistance payment will be made directly to the landlord.

Applications are now being accepted and are due at one minute to midnight on May 29. A second round of applications are due on June 12.

>> APPLY HERE FOR FREMONT RENT RELIEF

Fremont Grants for Small Businesses

The Small Business Relief Grant Program targets Fremont businesses who have suffered financial impact from COVID-19 pandemic responses. Grants awarded to selected businesses will be valued at $5,000 for businesses with 10 or fewer employees on payroll at the time of the initial Shelter-in-Place Order and $10,000 for businesses with 11 to 50 employees, respectively.

In order to qualify for funding, businesses must have a physical storefront or place of business in a commercial-designated facility in Fremont (home-based businesses do not qualify); have demonstrable financial impact stemming from COVID-19; and commit to rehiring or retaining at least one employee from a low-to-moderate income household. Additionally, businesses must have had a maximum of 50 employees in Fremont at the time of the first Shelter-in-Place Order issued on March 17.

Applications are now being accepted and are due at one minute to midnight on May 31.

>>APPLY HERE FOR FREMONT SMALL BUSINESS GRANTS

According to the City, funding for this relief package comes from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, signed into law on March 27 as part of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program.

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