City of Milpitas to provide rental assistance to low-income residents & workers

The City of Milpitas has undertaken a new measure to provide rental assistance to the city’s low-income residents and workers.

In partnership with an organization called FORWARD, known for working with local governments on program administration, the City has launched the City of Milpitas Workforce Housing Rental Assistance Program (WHRAP). As residents and workers face rising rents, the City shall provide $773,341 in Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA) funding to support the WHRAP’s efforts. 

Up to 50 recipients living or working within Milpitas city limits shall qualify. To be approved, these recipients must be at or below 30% of the Housing & Community Development (HCD) income levels. Those who are selected to receive support will benefit from 24 months of rental assistance.

Said Mayor Carmen Montano in a statement, “This program reflects our unwavering commitment to ensuring that members of our community have a safety net as they face challenges associated with housing instability. By supporting these households with rental assistance for 24 months, we’re highlighting our commitment to creating a Milpitas where everyone can thrive.”

Added Vice Mayor Evelyn Chua, “Mayor Montano and I have taken an active role in addressing the housing challenges within our community as members of our City’s Housing Subcommittee. I encourage all eligible residents to take advantage of this program and apply for assistance. Your well-being is our priority, and we are committed to doing everything in our power to support you during challenging times.”

To meet the bar of program eligibility, those who apply must:

• be employed at the time of application;
• be at or below 30% of Housing & Community Development (HCD) Area Median Income levels;
• have housing unit inspected by the City of Milpitas and meet PLHA guidelines; and
• meet one of the following scenarios:

○ Tier 1: at least one household adult lives and works in Milpitas;

○ Tier 2: at least one household adult lives in Milpitas, but works outside the City; or

○ Tier 3: at least one household adult lives outside Milpitas, but works in the City.

Applications are available in 68 different languages. Those interested in applying or learning more can go here. Applications close on May 1, 2024.