$6M Rent Aid Program Approved For Santa Monica Residents

SANTA MONICA, CA — Renters facing financial hardship could soon receive direct housing assistance through a new $6 million city-funded program aimed at preventing homelessness before it starts.

The Santa Monica City Council on Tuesday approved funding for the new Santa Monica Renter Aid program, marking the first major spending allocation from Measure GS, a voter-approved funding measure dedicated to homelessness prevention and renter support programs, according to the city.

The program, which will launch in summer 2026 in partnership with nonprofit service provider The People Concern, is expected to help about 150 renter households each year through financial assistance and housing stabilization services.

The program is designed to help residents who are struggling to remain housed amid rising living costs and housing instability, officials said.

“Santa Monica renters are the backbone of our community, and this program is about making sure they can stay here,” Mayor Caroline Torosis said in a statement. “Santa Monica Renter Aid puts Measure GS dollars to work exactly as voters intended, keeping working families housed before a crisis becomes a catastrophe.”

Eligible households must earn at or below 120% of the area median income — which is about $126,000 annually for a one-person household and roughly $180,000 for a family of four in Los Angeles County.

The city said priority will go to renters facing the greatest risk of homelessness.

Residents will be able to apply online, through paper applications and during in-person office hours at Virginia Avenue Park. The city also plans to offer multilingual outreach materials and housing navigation support through community organizations.

Housing and Human Services Director Aileen Reynolds said the initiative reflects the city’s focus on homelessness prevention.

“Keeping Santa Monica residents housed is one of the city’s highest priorities,” Reynolds said.

Measure GS was approved by Santa Monica voters in 2022 to create a dedicated funding source for affordable housing, renter protections and homelessness prevention programs.

Additional details about applications and outreach efforts are expected to be announced before the program launches later this year.