Thursday, September 3, 2020

Solano County Approves Rental Assistance Program for Low-Income Families Impacted by COVID-19

Beginning Monday, September 21, 2020, Solano County residents who need rental assistance because they lost their jobs or had their wages reduced due to COVID-19 are urged to apply to the County-funded Rental Assistance Program that is designed to support individuals and families in low-income communities impacted by the pandemic health emergency.

On Tuesday, August 25, the Solano County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved $4 million in CARES Act funding for the COVID-19 Rental Assistance Program (RAP). The RAP, administered by Catholic Charities of Yolo-Solano, will provide rental assistance paid directly to landlords on behalf of eligible renter households. The program also will provide participants with additional resources, including, but not limited to, employment assistance, access to mental and behavioral health services, and food and nutritional assistance through the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano and CalFresh.

“Catholic Charities is honored to provide this valuable service to local renter households most financially impacted by COVID-19,” says Miriam Sammartino, Executive Director of Catholic Charities Yolo-Solano. “In the coming three weeks, Catholic Charities staff will be reaching out to services providers across all seven cities to provide an overview of the program and to ensure that each provider understands how to access the application materials so that their clients can be directly connected to the program application wherever they receive services locally.”

To qualify for the COVID-19 cash-assistance rental program, applicants must have a head of household over 18 years of age, be a Solano County resident as of January 1, 2020, have an income at or below 100 percent of Federal Poverty Guidelines and can demonstrate financial hardship and/or loss of income due to COVID-19, including a letter from their most recent employer, bank statements and verification of income. The total cash-assistance amount applicants will be eligible for toward their monthly rental costs may vary depending on need. Eligible participants may receive up to $4,000 in one-time rental assistance per household.

Applicants are asked to apply online at www.ccyoso.org or in person at Catholic Charities’ offices located at 125 Corporate Place, Suite A, in Vallejo, beginning September 21. All materials associated with the program will be made available in English, Spanish and Tagalog. The general application period will close on Monday, October 12, 2020 at 5 p.m.

Monday, August 31, 2020

Immediate Reopening of Solano Salons, Barbershops & Retail Allowed by State Under New Color-Coded Blueprint

The California Department of Public Health, by order of Gov. Gavin Newsom, has implemented the new “Blueprint for a Safer Economy;” assigning every California county to one of four tiers (by color), increasing or decreasing requirements on businesses based on COVID-19 activity.

Solano County is currently assigned to Tier 1 (purple), which is classified as Widespread COVID-19 activity. The primary changes to the State’s health orders for all Counties assigned to Tier 1 include:

• Shopping Centers, including malls, destination centers and swap meets can re-open indoor operations at 25 percent capacity, but keep closed all common areas, including children’s play structures, gathering spots and food courts
• All retail, excluding grocers, are limited to 25 percent capacity indoors (Please note: there are no changes to grocers)
• Hair salons and barbershops may open indoor operations with modifications

The Solano County Department of Resource Management, Environmental Health division, and the Solano County Department of Health and Social Services, Public Health division, continues their outreach to local businesses, assisting them in implementing state-mandated social distancing best practices, including protecting employees, customers and the public, and limiting the spread of COVID-19 transmission.

“We must not forget that we are still operating in an emergency,” says Bela T. Matyas, M.D., M.P.H., Solano County’s Public Health Officer. “When businesses follow the State’s social distancing guidelines properly, 25 percent capacity is a reasonable expectation to help prevent the spread of the disease.”

The Blueprint for a Safer Economy (Blueprint) has four tiers, including Tier 1, Widespread; Tier 2, Substantial; Tier 3, Moderate; and Tier 4, Minimal. Depending on the tier, there may be limits placed on operations, including requirements preventing or limiting indoor service, the type of service, and the number of people allowed indoors at one time.

• For more information on California’s updated Blueprint for a Safer Economy, including the color-coded ranking system, please visit covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy/
• Read the full press release from Solano County

Tuesday, August 4, 2020

Sick Employees Can Return to Work Without COVID-19 Test After 10-day Isolation

As widespread community transmission of COVID-19 continues, the Solano County Health and Social Services Department, Public Health division, advises businesses and employers against requiring evidence of a negative COVID-19 test result for returning to work safely. Individuals who have been ill and isolating at home can end isolation 10 days after onset of symptoms, or 10 days after their testing date for those who do not have symptoms at all.