Saturday, January 17, 2026

Landlords Have Less Than a Week to Apply for County Rent Relief Tied to Eaton Fire

Courtesy of County of Los Angeles Department of Consumer and Business Affairs Facebook page

County program offers grants up to $15,000 per unit; deadline is 4:59 p.m. Thursday

The January 2025 Eaton Fire destroyed more than 9,000 structures in this foothill community. Now, with fewer than seven days remaining, landlords and displaced homeowners affected by that devastation have a shrinking window in which to apply for County rent relief.

Los Angeles County’s Emergency Rent Relief Program, which provides grants of up to $15,000 per rental unit to cover unpaid rent, closes its application portal at 4:59 p.m. on Thursday, January 23. The program specifically targets property owners dealing with rent arrears tied to the Eaton Fire, the Palisades Fire, and other emergency financial hardships.

Tenants cannot apply directly. Landlords must submit applications, and all grant funds are paid to property owners to clear eligible rental debt. Tenants who are behind on rent can refer their landlords to the program through an online interest form at lacountyrentrelief.com.

The program prioritizes small landlords who own four or fewer rental units and those whose household income is at or below 80 percent of the Los Angeles County Area Median Income. Eligible expenses include up to six months of unpaid rent accumulated between December 17, 2024, and January 23, 2026, as well as unpaid mortgages and other housing costs directly related to emergency financial hardship.

Free in-person application assistance is available at two remaining events: an information session on Saturday, January 17 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Grace Lutheran Church in Bell, and another session on Wednesday, January 21 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at Immanuel Presbyterian Church in Koreatown.

Altadena and Pasadena residents who cannot attend these events can apply online or call 877-849-0770 for free multilingual assistance. The call center operates Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with limited weekend support available by appointment.

“When families are pushed into debt by unexpected disasters and financial hardships, the risk of losing their housing becomes very real,” said Rafael Carbajal, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs, which administers the program. “This program gives residents a fighting chance to stay in their homes and regain their stability.”

The department has partnered with The Center by Lendistry, a nonprofit organization, to distribute more than $23 million in rental and mortgage relief through the program.

“This program offers meaningful help to people who have been working hard to stay housed through an incredibly challenging year,” said Tunua Thrash-Ntuk, president and CEO of The Center by Lendistry. “Our partnership with the County reflects our shared commitment to supporting households across Los Angeles and directing relief to people facing real financial strain.”

Community-based partners offering one-on-one application assistance include Chinatown Service Center, Comunidades Indigenas en Liderazgo (CIELO), Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE), and Klimt Consulting LLC. Language support is available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Khmer, and several indigenous languages.

To apply for the Emergency Rent Relief Program, visit lacountyrentrelief.com. For phone assistance, call 877-849-0770. Applications must be submitted by 4:59 p.m. on January 23, 2026. Submitting an application does not guarantee funding, the County said.