Preserving Our Diversity (POD)
Preserving Our Diversity (POD) provides monthly cash assistance, via debit card, to low-income, long-term senior renters (65+) in rent-controlled apartments in Santa Monica, California. Administered by the City's Housing Authority, it helps eligible seniors reach a minimum monthly after-rent income standard, currently $986 (one-person) and $1,724 (two-person). Began as a pilot in November 2017 with 22 participants, expanded in 2019 with a $2 million City Council investment intended to serve roughly 248-436 seniors. Funded entirely by the City of Santa Monica; applications accepted on a rolling basis with lottery-based waitlist enrollment.
Seniors, Rent Control, Aging in Place, Housing, California, Cash Assistance
Headquarters
- Organization Name
- City of Santa Monica Housing Authority (Housing and Human Services Department)
- City
- Santa Monica
- State / Province
- California
- Country
- United States
Contact
- Phone
- +1 310 458 8215
- Social media links
Status & Funding
- Organization status
- Active
- Program status
- Active
- Application status
- Rolling
- Number of recipients
- 436
- Funding type
- Government
Benefits
- Currency Type
- Fiat
- Currency
- USD
- Payment frequency
- Monthly
- Ongoing / unconditional
- Yes
- Distribution Type
- Debit card (Money Network)
- Benefit details
Monthly cash assistance loaded onto a Money Network debit card, individually calculated to bring each household's after-rent income up to the POD standard ($986/mo one-person, $1,724/mo two-person). Monthly assistance currently ranges $1-$939 (one-person) and $1-$1,643 (two-person) depending on need. No fixed total benefit or program end date.
Eligibility
Overview
- Eligibility details
Santa Monica residents 65+, continuously occupying their current Santa Monica rent-controlled apartment since before January 1, 2010 (extended over time from an original 2000 cutoff). Household income at or below Very Low Income (50% AMI) for LA County, currently $53,000 (1-person) to $75,750 (4-person). Applicants cannot already be in a subsidized apartment or voucher program.
Demographics
- Minimum age
- 65
Family
- Household size (minimum)
- 1
Housing
- Housing status
- Renter
Financial
- Income limit (annual household)
- $75,750
- Income as % of Area Median Income
- 50 %
- Currently receiving government benefits
- Disqualifying
Citizenship
- Minimum Years In Jurisdiction
- 16 years
Geography
- US states covered
- California
- Countries covered
- United States
- Cities covered
- Santa Monica
- Residency of Target Geography
- Yes
- Minimum Years A Resident of Target Geography
- 16 years
Application Process
- How to apply
Interested seniors register/apply online (English and Spanish) or by paper application. Can call for program questions or to request a paper application/accommodation. Applications accepted continuously rather than during a fixed window.
- Selection process
Only applicants meeting eligibility (age, tenancy duration, income) are placed on a waiting list. Enrollment from the waitlist occurs via periodic lotteries on a rolling basis; selected applicants must submit supporting documentation for final review before enrollment.
