They are still at the point of accepting my documents. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. Floridians who have received rent and utilities assistance through OUR Florida, the federally-funded Emergency Rental Assistance Program operated by the Department of Children and Families, share their stories of rebound and recovery. Applicants receiving assistance through a city or county program are not eligible to receive the same benefits through OUR Florida. The landlord may also enter under any of the following circumstances: I was told I shouldnt have been approved the first time (?) Our Spectrum News app is the most convenient way to get the stories that matter to you. <>/Metadata 81 0 R/ViewerPreferences 82 0 R>> Applicants are highly encouraged to gather all required . On the 29, we asked again, specifically asking about Pasko's situation and Roberg's concerns. How do I determine if my household income is within the eligible limit? Apply for Housing and Section 8 - Miami-Dade But the checks never arrived, and apparently cannot be traced. If the applicant is determined eligible for relief, the payment will be calculated. How will OUR Florida ensure that applicants have not received assistance from other entities to help pay rent and utilities? this has been very stressful. Emergency Rental Assistance FAQs - Gulfcoast Legal Services Florida tenants await help from Our Florida - WFTS Yes, I've also applied for the "erap assistance in my city" but the applications are sooo backed up I've been waiting over 4 months for them.. Since the pandemic happened getting anything has been like pulling teeth. I don't know what to think as I'm figuring the same time I was approved I should of gotten an email or whatever as well as the landlord. And the people waiting for all of these systems to be fixed, rebooted etc suffers. Even though the online portal said her application had been approved, she had to ask family to help pay Septembers rent. The applicant is not required to apply for or receive rental assistance in order to request assistance for utility arrearages. Have qualified for unemployment, experienced a loss of income, incurred significant costs or faced financial hardships due to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency; and, Attestation by the landlord who can be identified as the verified owner or management agent of the unit. I feel from the time someone applies those fee should not of occurred. Im there now and wanted to know how long it takes to change to approval? When the COVID-19 delta variant surged this summer, Pasko said patients stopped coming into the office and her hours were cut. Both landlord and I are approved. DCF coordinates funding for homeless assistance through a statewide network of lead agencies, called Continuums of Care, who subcontract with other community partners to fund the direct services provided to the homeless population. },:$o6Wb_Yb/9dQhF)[ ru{uYv^3*xLR\i7 veLn)5eAt)@U:u4:ZRumK7 FR|_4KZ1RwwW5.W?JlZQG,h1lBJ^@j{w%{06[jjwRp` Landlord/Tenant Law in Florida - Florida Commissioner of Agriculture On the contrary, for many, ERA funds have moved at a sluggish pace, failing to protect people from housing instability and financial hardship. I've been going through hell with my unemployment as well and prior to this with the irs and getting my taxes etc. The IRS has published guidance specific to ERAP: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/emergency-rental-assistance-frequently-asked-questions. Landlords exploit Australia's rental crisis with garden SHED up for My tenants remain safe in their homes, and my small business is back in the black!" By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Estimated wait time for approval on our Florida rental asst. I was laid off last April due to the pandemic. Everything you need to know about Florida's theme parks and the all-new Attractions Insider podcast! `ga{V2`0\ d0&( W/L$cY *Z`jp=}`@.^P&0&nx.Vo p!X? Hopefully u won't have any issues. Tenants can contact Orange County Government Information Help Line by dialing 407-836-3111 or 311 for more information regarding the Orange County COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program. The whole idea for OUR Florida is to help people like us, and theres many of us, said Bisono, who is currently staying at a friends living room. In the last week alone, dozens of people reached out to Spectrum News with complaints about OUR Florida, including some urgent cries for help from parents, disabled people and seniors at risk of imminently losing their housing. The money is being sent to the landlord so why would they need to see my bank account? What other proof can I provide? It's as though I'm sitting here willfully withholding the rent. An applicant can log into their account to submit a reconsideration request, which is the same process an applicant uses to apply for assistance. 4 0 obj PDF Florida Landlord Tenant Walk Through Checklist Without this program, I would be in a very bad spot, homeless, or without utilities. Below are pro-bono options. our florida waiting for landlord status - acting-jobs.net By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. When counting the 3 day notice period, do not include the first day of service, weekends or . Provide access to emergency shelters, rental assistance and case management to prevent individuals becoming homeless, and rapid re-housing of individuals from shelters or homelessness. Thats when she turned to the Community Law Program, a nonprofit working with tenants and landlords in Pinellas County. I have not received the email that states this however, the rep told me this upon checking my status. My rent is higher than the maximum payment for eligible households. The programs are administered at state and local levels; OUR Florida was contracted by Floridas Department of Children and Families. Please answer the questions here to determine if you are eligible. By that point, Florida had distributed 42% of its ERA1 funding, according to a letter to Treasury by DCF. our florida waiting for landlord status. All I am being told is that the system has not updated yet and this is why I don't see this on my portal about the approval. What's the trick?? Please reach out to your local city or county government to determine if funds are still available for rental assistance. Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) Frequently Asked - Arizona I then received a 3-day notice with late fees, and submitted that directly to my case worker. yhNO~AOO^3'yENOrYJZ8 This is such BS and I don't know what to do from here. The deputy director responded, Working on this, and will get back to you when I have answers.. If it's deja vu from last yrs fiasco I can see my money next yr March or April. Thing is I would have patience as well if I hadnt received an 8 day notice yesterday on my door. At the time that Pinellas County was going to send me a check, they saw that OUR Florida was sending me a check out, so Pinellas County canceled it, Pasko explained. There are multiple ways to prove a risk of homelessness or housing instability, including: Landlords or tenants will submit an application online at www.OURFlorida.com. Assistance is prioritized to households with incomes less than 50% of the area median income and households with one or more members that have been unemployed for at least 90 days. Nobody has ever mentioned to me that I need to send in any of my income information. All funds must be returned in the form of checks and must be accompanied by a note indicating the following: If you are a tenant and assistance is being provided to a landlord or utility company on your behalf the assistance is not considered income. This was in July. And other requirements. Read More. landlord) information. Can I qualify for OUR Florida? To be eligible for benefits, renters must: As of July 13, 2021, OUR Florida has paid more than $3.9 million in rental or utility assistance to 869 individuals with an additional $24 million obligated to more than 7,030 clients approved as eligible for assistance, which is anticipated to be disbursed by the end of the month. And this came through a contact that I actually had in Pinellas County who was able to sort of elevate it, Roberg said. (FYI) please get Info out to people that need help, Last time I checked they needed to see all of your bank account information for 6 months the check is sent directly to your landlord. Florida received more than $870 million to distribute for rent and utility relief, through Our Florida, a program under the Department of Families and Children. Florida's federally-funded emergency rental assistance relief program to support residents and businesses as they continue to recover and rebuild. If direct deposit is the selected payment method, transfer of funds may be expected within 18 days of when a complete application is filed. Our fl said I should not receive any late fees on my account. Yep, same here my friend. Our Florida Although that figure was still below the 65% required to be committed by Sept. 30, the state requested no funds be reallocated from its program. At that point, the landlord will review everything else included in your rental applicationthings like tax returns, pay stubs, government identification, and any letters of recommendation. ORLANDO, Fla. - As concern grows over whether Florida's low-income renters are receiving the Emergency Rental Assistance funds they need, changes are happening at the state and local level to. If you live in Pinellas County and need help with a possible eviction, click here to connect with the Community Law Program. Oh and don't even let me start with the irs. Applied in May, submitted all documents waiting for an answer. Bisono said before the pandemic hit, she was on top of her finances, even able to pay rent one or two months ahead at the condo where she used to live on the edge of Orange County. I let her know I'm already sad enough to need help and I should not have to be judged for needing help. Floridas federally-funded emergency rental assistance relief program to support residents and businesses as they continue to recover and rebuild. The day before Thanksgiving, Pasko reached someone at DCF on the phone who told her the check was now voided and another check would be sent. But waiting was not something Bisonos landlord was willing to do. Florida renters evicted while waiting for rental assistance - WFTS My status changed from "Submitted" to "Waiting Landlord" a week ago. Should applicants have questions regarding their eligibility, the application process or concerns about the program, the compiled Frequently Asked Questions is a great place to start. If I have already received relief or assistance, can I still apply? Mines didnt even wait for three days as instantly the late fees etc started showing up although they can see that I had applied as they sent in an application on my behalf. The applicant end of the website is fairly buggy and not only suffers from delays, but sometimes manual changes on your account in their back end can sometimes break the account in a way that stops it from ever updating properly again. Thank you I will try to see if anyone is near me and see if I can go in person. If you go on the website you can see it's definitely a legit program.. just seems impossible so far to get anywhere with them. A landlord may help a tenant complete the application, but the tenant must sign it. OUR Florida is federally funded, just like the hundreds of other emergency rental assistance programs (ERAPs) created in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Im praying they Dont play any games and offer the help thats needed because the eviction memorandum is up this week.