The wait is over for people in Jacksonville looking for financial help to pay for rent and utility payments. Application details have been released this morning.
The City of Jacksonville has $28.9 million dollars in the form of a grant as part of the Emergency Rental Assistance Program to help Duval County residents. A major portion of that money is being distributed by the United Way of Northeast Florida for rental assistance, and the the City of Jacksonville is working with JEA to distribute the remaining $5 million for utility payments.
Applications will be accepted starting Monday, March 29 at 8 a.m. The application deadline is Friday, April 9 at 6 p.m. The funds will be available to citizens to cover up to 12 months of rent and utility payments with the option for an additional three months if determined necessary to ensure housing stability. Partnering agencies JEA and the United Way of Northeast Florida will administer the program, with JEA managing $5 million and United Way distributing $23.8 million.
Federal guidelines require qualifying individuals and families to have an income that falls below 80% of the area median income. In addition to the income prerequisite, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Reside in Duval County.
- Provide proof of hardship due to COVID-19, including verification of unemployment benefits, a reduction in income or other financial issue that threatened the household’s ability to pay rent when due.
- Provide a documented risk of housing instability or homelessness.
- Be unable to access other payment assistance for the same costs (ex: If rent assistance was received from another program for March – May, this program may not be used to pay for rent during that timeframe; however, it could cover other months).
Reminder: If you need help with rent or utilities because your income has been impacted by COVID-19, we will share full details at 8 a.m. tomorrow about how to apply to the Emergency Rental Assistance program. Follow @cityofjax for more information. https://t.co/uZtQshcvif
— Lenny Curry (@lennycurry) March 25, 2021
The funding will be to help cover up to 12 months of rent and utility payments with an option for more. The City will process the applications and determine eligibility.
To qualify, you have to live in Duval, provide proof of a hardship related to COVID-19 and documentation that you’re in risk of housing instability or homelessness. You also have to be unable to access other payment assistance.
Cox Media Group
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