CARES Act

Bots are filling up community college classes in a likely attempt by scammers to fraudulently access COVID-19 relief grants and other financial aid. At least 10 districts or individual colleges told CalMatters they've been affected, and the community college system has announced new security measures to combat the scam.

A bill aims to create new rules for California's mostly unregulated debt settlement industry. AB 1405, expected to pass through Senate committees, comes at a time when the industry expects to see a 75% increase in account enrollment.

Public housing authorities in California, especially Los Angeles, have left critical coronavirus relief information out of letters sent to tenants. Advocates say the lack of information could lead to tenants evicting themselves when they don’t have to.

While some California colleges and universities began distributing emergency aid to students in February, others are only now pushing out the funds — largely because the federal government only recently gave them access to the relief.

Economists say small property owners have been uniquely pinched by the pandemic as renters move out or stop paying. Despite a federally mandated mortgage forbearance and $2.6 billion in rental relief from the state, some landlords who slip through the cracks wonder how much longer they can absorb the costs.

Providing independent contractors access to labor protections and benefits would help businesses comply with labor laws and spread costs more evenly.

Food sales, money pools and fundraising campaigns have been a lifesaver for many families affected by the pandemic.

California continues to favor large counties for relief funds at the expense of rural Californians, and we are fed up.

Farmworkers lost out on up to $1.5 billion in grants and loans for COVID-19 safety needs after the USDA committed funds earmarked as such for a food box program.  The USDA announced on Jan. 4 that it planned to spend $1.5 billion in a fifth round of the Farmers to Families Food Box Program. It has yet […]

Maya and her girlfriend count themselves lucky to have received rent relief through the federal CARES Act. Now the pressure is on the recent graduate to get hired and stay on top of rent.