Here's How to Get Rental Assistance in Florida

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By Araceli Cruz

December 6, 2021

Some renters may not know where or how to ask for help. In other cases, landlords are not completing the request for the funds. As a result, many renters are left out in the cold.

Although it’s been months since the national ban on evictions expired, and federal funds are being allocated to programs nationwide to help people stay in their homes, the help has been slow to reach families.

Congress passed $45 billion in rental aid, however, only $12 billion have been spent so far, according to CNBC. Why?

Some renters may not know where or how to ask for help. In other cases, landlords are not requesting the funds.

Despite working with federally-funded relief programs, some Florida residents face evictions—or have already been evicted.

For example, the Tzadik Brookside complex in Orlando did not finish the application for rental assistance through the program Our Florida. Now, because of its negligence, at least seven people have been evicted from that apartment complex. And a total of 35 people have already been served eviction notices this year.

“I understand that I owe back rent, but I’ve been doing my due diligence because I’ve had programs help me,” Angelica Brown told WFTV9 News.

Many programs take applications from both landlords and renters, which means people in need of help should not rely on landlords to seek assistance for their rent.

How to Request Rental Assistance

Each state has various programs that are federally funded, but renters must make sure they are working with a program that the government approves.

The first step should be to visit the Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) Program funded by the US Treasury.

For renters, click here to find government-approved programs to help you, and for homeowners, click here. There’s also information available in Spanish.

You will then look for rental assistance programs in your area. You will search under Florida and then in your county.

Here Are the 31 Rental Assistance Programs Available in Florida

Hialeah

PROGRAM NAME: Hialeah City Emergency Rental Assistance Program

GET STARTED: http://www.hialeahfl.gov/690/Funding-Opportunities

Jacksonville

PROGRAM NAME: City of Jacksonville Emergency Rental Assistance

GET STARTED: https://unitedwaynefl.org/erap/

Miami

PROGRAM NAME: Miami Emergency Rental Assistance

GET STARTED: https://www.miamigov.com/Housing-Assistance-Recovery/Housing-Assistance/ERA-Program

Orlando

PROGRAM NAME: Orlando Rental Assistance Program

GET STARTED: https://www.orlando.gov/Building-Development/Housing-and-Development-Grants-Incentives-and-Assistance/Housing-Assistance-Programs/Rental-Assistance-Program

St. Petersburg

PROGRAM NAME: St. Petersburg Rent and Utility Assistance

GET STARTED: https://www.stpete.org/residents/grants___loans/rental_assistance.php

Alachua County

PROGRAM NAME: Alachua County Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)

GET STARTED: https://info.alachuacounty.us/2021/ERAP/

Brevard County

PROGRAM NAME: Brevard County COVID-19 Emergency Rental and Utility

GET STARTED: https://www.brevardfl.gov/HousingAndHumanServices

Broward County

PROGRAM NAME: Broward County Rental Assistance Program

GET STARTED: https://www.broward.org/RentAssistance/Pages/default.aspx

Clay County

PROGRAM NAME: Clay County Emergency Rental Assistance

GET STARTED: https://www.claycountygov.com/government/cares-act/emergency-rental-assistance

Collier County

PROGRAM NAME: Collier County Assistance Program

GET STARTED: https://www.colliercountyhousing.com/

Escambia County

PROGRAM NAME: Escambia County Emergency Rental Assistance (ERAP) Program

GET STARTED: https://myescambia.com/erap

Hillsborough County

PROGRAM NAME: Hillsborough County Rapid Response Recovery Assistance Program (R3)

GET STARTED: https://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/residents/public-safety/rapid-response-recovery-assistance-program-r3/r3-program

Lake County

PROGRAM NAME: Lake County Emergency Rental Assistance Program

GET STARTED: https://lakecountyfl.submittable.com/submit

Lee County

PROGRAM NAME: Lee County Emergency Rental Assistance Program

GET STARTED:

https://leeflcares.com/

Leon County

PROGRAM NAME: Leon County Emergency Rental Assistance Program

GET STARTED: https://cms.leoncountyfl.gov/cares/

Manatee County

PROGRAM NAME: Manatee County Emergency Rental Assistance Program

GET STARTED: https://www.mymanatee.org/departments/redevelopment___economic_opportunity/community_development/manatee_cares/emergency_rental_assistance_program

Marion County

PROGRAM NAME: COVID Assistance Program (CAP)

GET STARTED: https://www.uwmc.org/CAP

Miami-Dade County

PROGRAM NAME: Miami-Dade County Emergency Rental Program 2.3

GET STARTED: https://www.miamidade.gov/global/housing/emergency-rental-assistance-program.page

Okaloosa County

PROGRAM NAME: Okaloosa County Emergency Rental Assistance

GET STARTED: https://okaloosarentalaid.com/

Orange County

PROGRAM NAME: Orange County Emergency Rental Assistance

GET STARTED: http://www.ocfl.net/EmergencySafety/Coronavirus/EmergencyRentalAssistance.aspx#funding-availability

Osceola County

PROGRAM NAME: Osceola County COVID-19 Emergency Rental

GET STARTED: https://www.osceola.org/agencies-departments/human-services/housing/

Palm Beach County

PROGRAM NAME: Palm Beach County Rental Assistance

GET STARTED: https://www.rentalassistancepbc.org/

Pasco County

PROGRAM NAME: Helping with Emergency Assistance Relief for Tenants (Pasco HEART)

GET STARTED: https://www.pascocountyfl.net/4385/Pasco-HEART

Pinellas County

PROGRAM NAME: Pinellas County Emergency Rental Assistance

GET STARTED: https://covid19.pinellascounty.org/where-to-get-help/

Polk County

PROGRAM NAME: Polk County Eviction Prevention Program

GET STARTED: https://www.polk-county.net/covid-19/rental-and-utilities-assistance-program

Sarasota County

PROGRAM NAME: Sarasota County Emergency Rental Assistance Program

GET STARTED: https://www.scgov.net/government/health-and-human-services/covid-19-coronavirus/sarasota-county-cares/emergency-rental-assistance-program

Seminole County

PROGRAM NAME: Seminole County Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) Program

GET STARTED: https://seminoleerap.seminolecountyfl.gov/program-overview/

Johns County

PROGRAM NAME: St. Johns County Emergency Rental Assistance

GET STARTED: http://www.sjcfl.us/Housing/index.aspx

Lucie County

PROGRAM NAME: St. Lucie County Emergency Rental Assistance Program

GET STARTED: https://recoverstlucie.org/emergency-rental-and-mortgage-assistance-program/

Volusia County

PROGRAM NAME: Volusia County Emergency Rental Assistance Program