That could leave the more than 100,000 renters who are still awaiting assistance from a program that stopped taking new applications more than a year ago officially out of luck.
The first warning sign came in the form of an email a staffer with the state Housing and Community Development Department sent out in early September to lawyers representing many of those same anti-poverty groups, which entered into a legal settlement with the department over the program earlier this year.
“As of July 31, 2023, the program had $128,940,473 in funding left for disbursement to applicants,” the staffer wrote in the email shared with CalMatters. The next round of payments would provide assistance to an estimated 5,521 households. But any money leftover “is unlikely to add enough funds to the remaining balance to support more than one additional” payment, the letter stated.
In other words, the program may soon be out of cash, though it’s impossible to say when.
In a statement, department spokesperson Pablo Espinoza did not dispute the contents of the email, but insisted that the program still has cash available for now.
“We have not run out of funds and we continue to evaluate applications that are eligible for funding,” he wrote. “The fact is that this was always meant to be a temporary emergency program, and funding is not infinite. It is unclear whether there will be sufficient funding to pay all eligible applicants,” he added in a subsequent statement.
That contradicts prior assertions made by the department.
In March 2022, Nur Kausar, then a spokesperson for the state housing department, told CalMatters that the program would “continue to operate until all complete applications received are processed and all eligible applicants have been paid.”
A Screenshot of California’s COVID-19 Rent Relief webpage. Image via the Wayback Machine on March 13, 2022.
A statement on the program website, since removed but stored on Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine, included a similar claim: “All eligible applications received on or before March 31, 2022, for rent or utilities owed between April 1, 2020 through March 31, 2022, will be paid.”
The program was created to help struggling tenants cover rental debt accrued between the beginning of the pandemic and March 2022. The housing department has struggled to work through a backlog of unaddressed applicants and unresolved rejection appeals in the 19 months since.
Espinoza acknowledged those prior statements in his statement.
“This is an error that has been addressed and corrected with all stakeholders for some time now. We embrace this renewed opportunity to reiterate the information accurately,” Espinoza said.
According to the housing department, 92,713 Californians are still awaiting an initial decision on their request for financial assistance. Another 34,751 appealed a prior rejection. It’s impossible to say how many of these nearly 130,000 applications will ultimately be rejected.
The prospect of the state’s COVID relief fund closing out its accounts comes just as the last COVID-era moratoriums on evictions expire across the state. In Los Angeles and Alameda County, that’s led to a spike in eviction proceedings
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CalMatters.org is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics.
Richard “Dick” Streufert
died after a long illness on Saturday, September 30 at his home in
Freshwater, with his beloved wife Nancy at his side. Dick was born in
Garber, Oklahoma in 1937 into a large German family of Lutheran
pastors. He was raised in Oklahoma City and attended college at the
University of Wisconsin at Madison, graduating in 1962 with a
Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering (BSME). Over the
course of his 30-year career as a digital design engineer in the
military division of Delco Electronics, his designs powered many
critical military and space applications, including the mission
computers for F-16 fighter aircraft. He retired in 1992 as manager of
a computer processing group in the Advanced Digital Engineering
Department of Delco Systems Operations in Santa Barbara.
Dick
was a creative man who loved technical challenges. When he and Nancy
moved in 1986 to a home off the grid at the Hollister Ranch (west of
Santa Barbara in the Santa Ynez Mountains), Dick designed a
solar-powered system and a wind generator to power the home. He loved
the outdoors and the natural world, and his many interests included
sailing (Lake Michigan and the Pacific Ocean out of Santa Barbara
harbor), camping and fly-fishing in the Sierras with his Delco
buddies, organic gardening, astronomy, any and all kinds of weather
phenomena, woodworking, building furniture, and restoring old cars,
particularly Jaguars. In 2001, Nancy and Dick moved to Humboldt
County, God’s country among the redwoods, where Nancy serves as an
Episcopal priest and Dick happily maintained their 29-acre property,
hauling fallen trees and chopping wood and puttering around in his
1000 sq. ft. shop.
Dick
was preceded in death by his parents, The Rev. Luther T. Streufert
and Clara Heerwagen Streufert, his brother Norman, and his first wife
Judith. He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Nancy Streufert; his
sons from his marriage to Judith: Steven Streufert and Steven’s
children Gitanjali Castalian and Robin Brown; Peter Streufert; and
Eric Streufert, daughter-in-law Lindsay and their children Holden,
Ava, and Isla; brother and sister-in-law Mark and Mary Streufert;
sister Marian Jenz; nephews David Jenz and Christopher Streufert;
nieces Lisa Siblik and Anna Guerard; and beloved cats Mortie and
Meeso.
The
family wishes to thank the doctors, nurses, aides, therapists and
other staff members at St. Joseph Hospital in the Progressive Care
Unit, Eureka Rehabilitation, and Hospice of Humboldt for their
compassionate care of Dick during his last weeks of life.
Friends
and acquaintances are invited to his funeral service and celebration
of life to be held Friday, October 13, 2023, at 2 p.m. at St. Alban’s
Episcopal Church, 1675 Chester Avenue, Arcata. Donations in Dick’s
memory may be made to St. Alban’s and will be gratefully received
to support the church’s creation care ministry. Final arrangements
were made by Ayres Family Cremation with care and compassion.
“For
I know that my Redeemer lives, and
that at the last he will stand upon the earth; and after my
skin has been thus destroyed, then in my
flesh I shall see God.”
(Job 19:25-26)
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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Dick Streufert’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.
Frank
Aaron Henry Sr. November
28, 1961- September 29, 2023
Frank
Aaron Henry Sr.– a father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother,
uncle, cousin, son, and great friend. Frank passed away unexpectedly
on September 29, 2023 at his home in Eureka.
Frank
was born November 28, 1961 in Eureka to Kathleen and Elliott
Henry. Frank was considered a little brother to Joyce Moser,
Elliott ‘Sonny’ Henry, and Tanya Norris and a big brother to
Madeline Henry, Vicky Henry, and Valerie Ryles. Frank was a proud
father to Bud Henry, Frank Henry Jr., Lena Henry, Kayla Henry, and
Kayce Salas; a proud father-in-law to William Salas, Greg Campbell, and
Louisa-Weezie Jones; a proud grandfather to SyLenna, Dauwin, and Kenek
Poe, Gabe and Ava Salas, Brandon and Lousia Henry, Isaiah
Hersey-Henry, Kaydence McCullough, Sammy and Jesus Jones; and proud great-grandfather to Andrew Henry.
Frank
was a proud Yurok man who cared deeply for his family. Frank Henry
worked in mills most of his life until he got injured in 2018. After
this he decided to go back to school, after a lot of encouragement,
to obtain the career that he had always dreamed of being a substance
use counselor. He then started at College of the Redwoods addiction
studies program in 2019 where he graduated in 2021. He then started
interning at Crossroad NCSAC. Frank was so proud of himself when he
was offered a full-time job when his internship was finished. He loved his job at Crossroads for the four years that he was there. He
loved the people he met there and cherished the friendships he made
with staff and residents. Frank found a passion for helping others on
their journey to recovery that he found 10 years ago.
Frank
enjoyed getting together with his children and grandchildren to
celebrate birthdays, achievements, watching his grandchildren play
sports, family trips, watching steelers play and WWE, and fights.
Frank loved to show up to football games to watch his granddaughter
SyLenna cheer an hour early. Frank loved when his son Bud Henry would
spend hours watching the fights together. Frank loved to spend time
with his daughter Lena Henry watching crime shows and to be a part of
her children’s achievements. Frank loved spending time with Kayce
Salas going fishing. Frank Loved to go Hunting and playing sticks
with his grandsons Kenek Poe and Dauwin Poe. Frank loved his time
talking about Legos with his grandson Gabe Salas. Frank was
proud to watch his grandson Brandon Henry become such a great man,
father, and husband. Frank loved to watch all his grandchildren grow
into the amazing young women and men that they are today and
cherished the memories that he had with all five of his children and 11
of his grandchildren.
Frank Aaron Henry Sr. is survived by his mother, Kathleen Henry; his mother-in-law of 34 years, Maria Avelar; his five sisters: Joyce, Tanya, Madeline, Vicky, and Valerie; the numerous nephews and nieces he has; his wife of 34 years, Manuela Avelar, whom he loved dearly; his four children, whom he loved with all his heart: Bud Henry, Lena Henry, Kayla Henry, and Kayce Salas; his son-in-law, Billy Salas, and Greg Campbell; his daughter-in-law, Louisa-Weezie Jones; and his 11 grandchildren, whom he loved watching grow into the amazing young people they are today: SyLenna, Dauwin, and Kenek Poe; Gabe and Ava Salas; Brandon and Louisa Henry; Isaiah Hersey-Henry; Kaydence McCullough; Sammy and Jesus Jones; and his great-grandson, Andrew Henry.
Frank is preceded in death by his amazing son, Frank Aaron Henry Jr.; his grandmother, Lucy Henry; his grandparents, Frank and Zelma Green; his father-in-law, Carlos Avelar; his beloved father, Elliot Henry; his two brothers, Elliott ‘Sonny’ Henry and Eldred Norris; his nephew, To-Tehl Elliott Henry Surber; and one of his best friends, Ben Casey.
Services and viewing for Frank Henry Sr. will be at Paul’s Chapel on Saturday October 7, 2023 at 11 a.m. Potluck style reception following at 2 p.m. Arcata Veterans Memorial Building (1425 J St. Arcata.) please feel free to bring a dish to share if you would like.
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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Frank Henry Sr.’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.
Gwendolyn Faye Jones was born to Calvin and Edna Faulk on July 21, 1950 in Arcata. She passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, October 2nd, 2023, in Eureka.
Gwen grew up in the town of Cranell and graduated from McKinleyville High with the class of 1968. She had many professions throughout her life, including bartending at the Powderhorn in Eureka, where she met her husband Bill Jones. Gwen and Bill spent 48 years together before her passing. They raised five children and their granddaughter, Brittany. They had numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and their home was open to anyone at any time.
Gwen was a social butterfly and sitting still was not something she liked to do. Between house parties, card games and nights spent drinking and dancing at the Moose Lodge, you could always find Gwen surrounded by family and friends. She loved yard sales, cooking for anyone who would eat, and camping.
Gwen is preceded in death by her parents Calvin & Edna; Her brothers Jerry and Cal, as well as her sister Wanda. She is survived by her husband, Bill Jones; her brother, Delbert Faulk; her children, Mendy Jones (Gary), Raeleen Olson, Carolee Strong (Randy), Brandon Jones and Kimberly Adams (Rodney); her grandchildren, Brittany Holland (Jeff), Derek Armstrong, Ashlie Taulman (Robbie), Connor Jones (Jamie), Halle Strong, Natalie, Harlee and Robert Adams; her five soon-to-be six great grandchildren; as well as numerous nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly.
She will be greatly missed, and the world is a dimmer place without her smiling face.
There will be a memorial service at the McKinleyville Moose Lodge on a date in November to be determined.
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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Gwen Jones’ loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.
The Eureka Police Department is requesting the public’s assistance in locating Zachary Daniels.
Daniels was reported by his family to have been living as a transient lifestyle in the
Eureka/Humboldt area. He last contacted his family in February of 2023.
Daniels is described as being a white male adult, 38 years old, with brown hair and brown eyes.
He is approximately 6 feet 3 inches tall weighing 180 pounds. Anyone with information
regarding the whereabouts of Daniels is asked to contact the Eureka Police Department
Investigations Unit at 707-441-4300.
Democrats in the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee are losing patience with Rob Arkley.
In a letter issued this morning to one of Arkley’s Security National business offices in Baton Rouge, La., 10 majority members of the committee note that Arkley has declined to provide information they requested from him back in July.
“You also declined to provide any justification for your failure to provide the information we requested,” says the letter, which is signed by prominent senators such as Dick Durbin (majority whip and committee chair), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and former presidential candidates Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Cory Booker (D-NJ).
To recap the background here, the Senate Judiciary Committee is following up on a string of investigative stories (primarily from nonprofit outlet ProPublica) examining the cozy relationships between conservative justices on the U.S. Supreme Court and billionaire donors such as real estate tycoon Harlan Crow and hedge fund manager Paul Singer.
Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, in particular, have failed to disclose lavish gifts from such patrons, including luxury vacations on yachts and private jets, leading to what members of the Judiciary Committee call a “judicial ethics crisis overshadowing the Supreme Court.”
Arkley was implicated through a ProPublica investigation published in June, which detailed a luxury Alaskan fishing vacation Alito took in 2008. The trip was planned and attended by conservative activist and Federalist Society executive Leonard Leo, and the VIP guests reportedly stayed for free at a luxury fishing lodge owned by Arkley.
“A planning document prepared by lodge staff describes Alito as a guest of Arkley,” the ProPublica story says. “Another guest on the trip told ProPublica the trip was a gift from Arkley, and two lodge employees said they were told that Alito wasn’t paying.”
Arkley also flew late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia to Alaska in his private jet in 2005, according to ProPublica’s reporting, and in a memorable anecdote, Scalia mixed martinis with ice chipped off the Hubbard Glacier while aboard a chartered fishing vessel called the Happy Hooker IV.
The Senate Judiciary Committee is now considering legislation to strengthen ethics rules and standards that apply to the Court, and in its July letters to Arkley and Leo, the Democratic committee members requested itemized lists of the gifts they’ve bestowed on justices of the Supreme Court.
According to today’s follow-up inquiry, Arkley did respond via letter on July 25, though rather than providing the information requested he referred the committee to a response from Leo, who is also stonewalling investigators.
In his own reply to the committee, Leo argued that the inquiry lacks a valid legislative purpose and amounts to political retaliation against him. In a letter sent to Leo today, the committee members who responded to Arkley describe Leo’s claims as “frivolous” and “unreasonable,” and they give him until Oct. 19 to submit the information they’ve requested.
Arkley has been given the same deadline, which presumably comes with the implied threat of a “contempt of Congress” charge.
Arkley did not immediately respond to an email requesting more information. We’ll update this story if he does so.
Below is a link to the Senate Judiciary Committee’s letters to both Arkley and Leo.
Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:
On Oct. 5, 2023, at about 1:52 a.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies on patrol in the McKinleyville area conducted a traffic stop for a vehicle code violation in the area of North Bank Road and Hunts Drive.
Deputies contacted the driver and single-occupant of the vehicle, 57-year-old Lawrence Edward Vaughn, who was found to be driving with a suspended license. While speaking with Vaughn, deputies observed a firearm in plain sight.
Upon inspecting the firearm, deputies found it to be loaded. Deputies also located an additional firearm inside the vehicle and drug paraphernalia.
During a search of Vaughn incident to arrest, deputies located approximately 1.53 grams of methamphetamine.
Vaughn was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of possession of a controlled substance while armed (HS 11370.1(A)), possession of a controlled substance (HS 11377(a)) and possession of a controlled substance paraphernalia (HS 11364(a)).
Anyone with information about this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.
