Where can I get help with rent in Colusa County, CA?

(Request from Ginger in Arbuckle, California) I’m a single mom of a 4 yrs old daughter. I’ve never asked for help before. So I don’t know who to ask. I don’t have money for rent this month. I am scared to be kicked out with my small child.. where can I get help with my rent in colusa county ca / Arbuckle. My rent is $700.

Dear Ginger,

You could certainly benefit from meeting with a case manager in order to review your situation and to develop a plan of action. Your case manager can help you remain in your current rental unit if you are able to afford to stay there in the long-term.

What this means is that you could get some bridge-funding or some other type of emergency grant assistance to prevent the eviction, thereby allowing you to resume your normal rental payments. Of course, eligibility requirements are in place to make sure that only those individuals and families who could most benefit from the funding receive serious consideration. But you do not need to concern yourself with the eligibility requirements. All you have to do is to provide your case manager with the specifics about your situation, including documentation to prove your monthly income, family size and lease contract.

Community Action Partnership of Colusa, Glenn, and Trinity Counties

The Community Action Partnership of Colusa, Glenn, and Trinity Counties is a nonprofit organization that provides case managers that can help you. This organization has indicated that they have been working hard to line up funding to provide rent subsidies to lower income households.

The purpose of these rent subsidies is to make your rent more affordable so that you are not always scraping by. This is not an emergency rental assistance program. Instead, the purpose is to help families who constantly struggle the chance to make a lower rent payment that is generally no more than 30-40% of their total monthly income.

If you have been struggling on a perpetual basis to afford your rent, then you may want to talk with your case manager about the potential for receiving Tenant Based Rental Assistance. Otherwise, if your situation is more of a temporary hardship, then your case manager can work with you and your landlord to determine an appropriate outcome. If emergency grants are available, then they may allocate some funding to help you catch up on your rental arrears. Call 530-865-6129 to speak with a representative.

Colusa County Housing Authority

The Colusa County Housing Authority provides permanent rent subsidies through the federal Section 8 program. There are housing options through this program that do not require that you live in a traditional housing project.

If you qualify for and are entered into the Housing Choice Voucher Program, then you could benefit from subsidies that reduce your total rent cost to 30% of your income. A waiting list may take quite some time, so it is important to contact the agency right away and determine if you can sign up for permanent rental assistance. Call 530-934-1480.

Colusa County Department of Health & Human Services

The Colusa County Department of Health & Human Services focuses on providing immediate assistance to Colusa County residents who need help with rental costs. Case workers are available to work with you to find out if you may qualify for rental assistance grants or other forms of assistance.

The agency constantly seeks funding for this program to increase the amount of assistance that it can provide to tenants in need. To find out what types of rental assistance grants you might be eligible for, call 530-458-0250.

Temporary Rental Assistance Loans

If you typically earn enough to afford your rent payments but fell behind due to a temporary crisis, then you may consider using a short-term rental loan to catch up on your rent. Most credit unions and banks can lend you $1,000 or more as an unsecured personal loan, giving you the chance to catch up on your rent and spread out those payments over 12, 18 or even 24 months.

Travis Credit Union offers personal loan rates that were approximately 15-18% at press time. While this is not a cheap option, it is far more affordable than predatory products that routinely charge more than double these rates.

An alternative loan product is becoming more popular. Some credit unions are adding a payday loan option that offers a rate that is a fraction of what predatory payday loan companies charge. Usually you will be required to have direct deposit from your employer set up as a condition for borrowing money against your paycheck. Rates tend to be quite low compared even to finance company rates.

There are a few options available for you, and generally you should talk with a case manager first to determine if you qualify for grant assistance before taking the plunge into a loan to pay rent. Agencies receive a combination of federal, state, and local government funding, as well as private grant funding in order to provide help with rent in Colusa County, and sometimes in surrounding counties.