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Article and photos by Isaac González-Díaz
The Salinas City Council approved a $750,000 budget for a pilot rental assistance program with no opposition during its Dec. 2 meeting. The motion was approved unanimously with Councilmember Gloria de la Rosa absent.
The program aims to help tenants at risk of homelessness remain in stable housing, prevent displacement, and reduce the risk of being unhoused by providing short-term rental assistance of up to three months’ rent and support — with up to $9,000 paid directly to landlords.
The program requires eligibility criteria of a valid 12-month lease, a three-day notice to pay or quit, being no more than three months behind in rent, and the recipient cannot be receiving subsidized support through another program, such as a Section 8 voucher. The program also requires a landlord’s agreement to pause eviction and accept payment on behalf of the tenant.
The program is a partnership with the Monterey County Office of Education, which provides support to families with school-aged children enrolled at school who are at risk of homelessness.
Kayshla Lopez, homelessness services manager for the city of Salinas, explained that it’s a one-time program for first-time recipients.
If a tenant “received the assistance last year for the same purpose,” they wouldn’t be able to receive the funds again, said Lopez. “We want to make this program equitable for other individuals that may need the support.”
The pilot Rental Assistance Program is being offered as an alternative to the Rental Stabilization Ordinance that was repealed by the Salinas City Council in April. Subsequently, residents gathered 10,000 signatures to put the vote to a referendum and bring the repealed ordinance back into effect until voters decide their fate on the 2026 ballot.
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During public comments, Salinas residents were divided regarding the new pilot assistance program.
Cary Swensen, small-business owner and Hartnell College educator, said the response was for immediate short-term relief, and questioned the long-term outlook.
“Families will continue to face challenges once the program ends,” said Swensen.
Eloise Shim said the rental assistance program poses a stop-gap to repeal the Rental Stabilization Ordinance.
The pilot program is “an effort to cancel the idea of rent stabilization, which the entire council knows is an unpopular stance with the community at large,” said Shim.
Adam Pinterits expressed support for the rental assistance pilot with a vision of what this program may offer to the city of Salinas. He compared it to a similar program during the COVID-19 pandemic, when a statewide rental assistance program helped a lot of families during economic hardships.
“I’m very supportive of going in this direction,” Pinterits said. “This is just the first step. There are more conversations about implementing this at a scale that Salinas needs.”
Staff was directed to present a report in July 2026, summarizing the number of households assisted, total funds reimbursed, the application processing times, and the program’s impact on eviction and homelessness prevention rates.
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