Renters, Landlords Should Prepare For $12M Rental Assistance Fund

Bradenton FL

03 February, 2021

10:52 AM

Description

MANATEE COUNTY, FL — Manatee County officials are urging residents to prepare now for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program that will assist renters who are delinquent on rent and who need financial assistance as a result of financial losses from the COVID-19 pandemic, the county said in a news release. Applications for financial assistance will open Feb. 16 at mymanatee.org/renthelp. Through the ERA program, the county will distribute $12 million in grants for rent and landlord-paid utilities for much of 2021. Eligible renters may receive grant funds for up to 12 months of assistance, if needed, through November, whichever is less. Funds will be paid directly to the landlord for delinquent rent bills, the county said. "There have been so many negative local impacts from the global pandemic, but we believe this new Emergency Rental Assistance program will go a long way in helping vulnerable people remain sustainably housed," Karen Stewart, Manatee County's deputy county administrator said. "We expect ERA funds to help up to 1,500 households each month for much of 2021, but the key for those people to receive assistance is to prepare now." Like what you're reading? Invite a friend to subscribe to free Bradenton newsletters and real-time email alerts. County officials say applicants should begin getting paperwork in order now ahead of the Feb. 16 start date. Doing so will make the application process easier and could result in the applicant receiving the grant assistance more quickly, the county said. Applicants need to register with the county's online application portal, Neighborly, which will be posted at the county's rental assistance website. Applicants are also encouraged also file their 2020 IRS tax return for ease of eligibility determination. They'll also need documentation that their annual wages or salary have been negatively impacted by the pandemic, the county said. A full list of required documents is available online here. Applicants must be at or below 80 percent of the area median income (AMI), which is $43,850 per year for a one-person household. Those at or below 50 percent of the AMI, which is $26,800 per year for a one-person household, will be given priority, along with those who have documented unemployment for more than 90 days, the county said. This is based on the number of people living in a household and the total income for everyone in each household, including spouse, roommate, elderly parents and adult children.