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Milpitas moves forward with rental assistance program

City allocates $773,341 to support low-income residents, workers

New housing projects, like these condos being built near the pending Milpitas BART Station off Montague Expressway, dominate the landscape in southern Milpitas. While the city currently does not require that any new residential units be affordable, that could change soon.
Photo by Henri Gendreau
Photo by Henri Gendreau
New housing projects, like these condos being built near the pending Milpitas BART Station off Montague Expressway, dominate the landscape in southern Milpitas. While the city currently does not require that any new residential units be affordable, that could change soon. Photo by Henri Gendreau
Anne Gelhaus, staff reporter, Silicon Valley Community Newspapers, for her Wordpress profile. (Michael Malone/Bay Area News Group)
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The city of Milpitas has partnered with FORWARD, a program administrator for local governments, to launch the Workforce Housing Rental Assistance Program (WHRAP) to support low-income Milpitas residents and workers.

The city has allocated $773,341 in Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA) funding for the WHRAP. The program will provide 24 months of rental assistance for up to 50 households at or below 30% of Housing and Community Development (HCD) income levels and who are living and/or working within city limits.

“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,” Mayor Carmen Montano said in a statement.

To be eligible for the program, applicants must be employed at the time of application; be at or below 30% of HCD area median income levels; have their housing inspected by the city of Milpitas and meet PLHA guidelines.

Eligible households must include at least one adult who lives and works in Milpitas, lives in Milpitas but works outside the city or lives outside Milpitas but works in the city.

The Milpitas City Council approved FORWARD as the program administrator to assist with community outreach, application support and screening for eligibility. FORWARD’s online application portal is available in 68 languages, and access to application support is available in multiple languages via phone, text and email.

Applicants must provide identification and a recent pay stub or other proof of income, and show proof of a current lease or documentation of residence showing evidence that establishes a pattern of paying rent.

For more information and to apply, visit www.forwardplatform.com/city-of-milpitas-workforce-housing-rental-assistance-program