Resources for renters during COVID-19

Here are some resources to help you navigate this unprecedented time. Information about your rights as a tenant and list of housing support organizations that help renters.

Have questions or feedback? Reach out to us at community@goodcover.com.

Goodcover remains open and fully operational during the COVID-19 crisis. Claims management and support remains unaffected for members. We have implemented a 60 day grace period on overdue premium payments. We have also extended our deadlines for providing various documentation, appraisals, and valuations. Read our post to learn more about how we’re serving you during this time.

California has recently passed statewide COVID-19 tenant and landlord protection legislation (AB 3088) -- under this legislation "no tenant can be evicted before February 1, 2021 as a result of rent owed due to a COVID-19 related hardship accrued between March 4 – August 31, 2020, if the tenant provides a declaration of hardship according to the legislation’s timelines. For a COVID-19 related hardship that accrues between September 1, 2020 – January 31, 2021, tenants must also pay at least 25 percent of the rent due to avoid eviction.”

Further, cities and counties have their own guidelines that can offer greater protection than the statewide minimum such as rent freezes found in Oakland and San Jose for example -- see more local jurisdiction info at Nolo.

If you’re unable to pay rent and face the prospect of eviction, remember to:

1. Communicate with your landlord in writing about your situation. Tell them you can’t pay all or some of the rent, and propose an alternative payment plan if possible. Some landlords have been able to accommodate different payment plans and timelines.
2. Gather documents about your reduced income, for example pay stubs showing lost hours or layoff announcements in your industry. These are useful for sharing with your landlord and applying for rent relief programs.
3. Understand your rights and seek out help from organizations that support tenants. Evictions are strenuous and painful, but there are regulations and organizations that are designed to help tenants in this process. You don’t need to do it alone.

Need assistance? Connect with fair housing and tenants rights organizations in your area (info managed by HUD.GOV)

Alameda

Central California

Contra Costa and Solano

Los Angeles

North Bay (Sonoma, Napa, Marin)

Orange County

Sacramento Valley

San Francisco

Tri-County (Santa Clara, San Mateo and Santa Cruz)

The EDD, Employment Development Department, provides a variety of support services to people who have lost their jobs, had their hours reduced, or had their businesses affected due to the impacts of COVID-19 in California.

Covered California offers resources to get information and apply for low- or no-cost health insurance.

Reputable sources with the most up-to-date information on COVID-19:

CDC: English | Español

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention provides the most up-to-date information on how to protect yourself from COVID-19, as well as what to do if you are sick.

CDPH: English | Español

The California Department of Public Health has specific information for Californians including where to get tested.

Other links to local medical programs. Note: this is not medical insurance advice, but people have found these links helpful in understanding these respective programs.

• https://www.helpadvisor.com/medicaid/medicaid-overview
• https://www.medicareadvantage.com/medicare-enrollment

For stats and daily updates visit the official website for California Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response: English | Español.

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