The City of Orlando continues to work to leverage federal funding to help residents in need during the pandemic. Our Emergency Rental Assistance Program has helped over 2,000 households that have been financially impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic get caught up on their rent.
City of Orlando households looking to apply should visit orlando.gov/assistance. The deadline to submit an application for rental assistance is July 1, 2022.
• Applications submitted prior to July 1 will continue to be processed.
• Previously approved applicants can request additional funding but must submit their request by July 1.
• Submitting an application does not guarantee approval. Applications are reviewed and approved based on eligibility requirements, program guidelines and funding availability.
This program, a partnership with KPMG and Neighborly Software, is funded with $6.8 million in COVID-19 Relief Funds from the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Per the Treasury Department’s requirements for this program, to be eligible, a household must:
• Include one or more individuals within the household who has qualified for unemployment benefits or experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs, or experienced other financial hardship during or due, directly or indirectly, to the COVID-19 pandemic;
• Include one or more individuals within the household who demonstrate a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability;
• Have a household income at or below 80% of the area median income ($66,300 for a family of four), with priority given to households at or below 50% of the area median income ($41,450 for a family of four) or that have a household member who has been unemployed for 90 days; and
• Submit proof of occupancy in the rental residence – this can include a copy of a lease, rental agreement, rent receipts, evidence of regular rental payments, or any other documents that show proof of occupancy.
The City of Orlando’s program also has the following additional eligibility requirements and program guidelines including:
• The rental residence must be located within Orlando city limits. Applicants can verify their address at orlando.gov/assistance.
• Rental assistance is provided for past-due rent and up to three months of prospective rent payments. The total amount of assistance, including any assistance received under the first phase of the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, may not exceed 18 months.
• Rentals in homeowner occupied or homestead properties are not eligible.
• The applicant’s monthly rental rate may be no more than $4,000 per month.
• Assistance with utility payments will not be provided unless the utilities are billed as part of the lease.
• Rental assistance payments will be made directly to the landlord.
• If a landlord refuses to participate in the program, eligible tenants will still receive assistance by working with a Housing Stability Services counselor, as long as resources remain available.
• Housing Stability Services will be available through counseling to: prevent evictions; assist tenants in finding new housing and when necessary, pay fees, deposits, and rent for the new unit; and provide housing-related services for survivors of domestic abuse or human trafficking.
For more information on eligibility requirements and/or to begin the application process, Orlando residents should visit orlando.gov/assistance.
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Communications with the City of Orlando’s Office of Community Affairs
