Struggling with rent? Facing eviction? How to navigate a tricky situation
For many people, the past year with COVID-19 has brought some form of financial hardship. Jobs have been cut, businesses have suffered, and for service industry workers, their hours have been slashed or their responsibilities scaled back.
New Orange County emergency rental assistance begins
ORLANDO, Fla. – Orange County is ending its eviction diversion program in February, making way for a new emergency rental assistance, or the ERA, program to take over in March. “Since our COVID-19 eviction diversion program launched six months ago, we have provided more than $11.2. “As of about midday today, 3,571 different individuals or households had benefited from our existing eviction diversion program.”On Monday, Orange County launched a new emergency rental assistance program. The county is earmarking $20 million for people at 50% of the area median income and $10 million for people at 80% of the area median income. The Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association is offering housing clinics via telephone.
Lake County residents can soon apply for rental assistance program
LAKE COUNTY, Fla. – Lake County is opening an emergency rental assistance program and residents can apply starting Monday. People living in Lake County can preregister here. Applications will be accepted starting Monday through 11:59 p.m. on March 21. Those who preregister will be notified when the application portal opens. You must meet the following criteria to qualify:Primary residence must be in Lake County and applicants must be rentersRent must be past dueApplicants must have a documented financial hardship as a result of COVID-19Total household income for calendar year 2020 must be at or below 80% of the area median income for Lake County
Orlando to launch rental assistance program in partnership with United Way
Orlando City Council voted on plans to use $1.5 million of Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security, or CARES, Act funds to provide rental assistance. The city will partner with United Way to implement the funds. Requests for rental assistance can be made through the Heart of Florida United Way website beginning Sept. 9 at 8 a.m. City employees will assist the United Way in administering and overseeing the program. Residents who are interested in applying for the Rental Assistance Program are encouraged to begin gathering all required documents needed to apply as soon as possible.
Florida United Way weighs in on housing crisis during coronavirus pandemic
Florida United Way weighs in on housing crisis during coronavirus pandemicPublished: August 7, 2020, 10:22 amJeff Hayward, CEO of Heart of Florida United Way, describes the increase in people struggling and needing assistance during the coronavirus pandemic.
Commissioners proposal to freeze Orange County rent prices fails to move forward
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – A proposal from Orange County District Five Commissioner Emily Bonilla to freeze rent prices did not pass a vote Tuesday and won’t move forward to a public hearing. Bonilla was asking the other members of the board to approve a special public hearing to take place on June 30, in order to get a rental increase freeze on the November ballot. A lot of people right now are paying their rent with credit cards,” Bonilla said ahead of the vote. The proposal failed to move forward to a special public hearing after a 5-2 vote. Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings voted against the proposal saying there wouldn’t be enough time to have lawyers look at the proposal and to get input from both sides.