August 9, 2021 – Flagler County officials are urging renters to use the rental assistance money available through OURFlorida.com. They could be eligible for up to 15 months of assistance – paid directly to the landlord – and, some utilities assistance is also available.
“The reports are showing that a lot of this money is still available,” said Health and Human Services Director Joyce Bishop. “This money is there for eligible renters who are behind in their rent. It’s there for them to avoid eviction, so they should use it.”
The program focuses on low-income renters whose household income is at or below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI), which varies by county, and prioritizes renters and/or families who have experienced unemployment within the past 90 days.
“Landlords should coordinate with tenants to determine eligibility for the program and to submit the application,” Bishop said. “Once the application is approved, the landlord will receive payment directly.”
OUR (Opportunities for Utilities and Rental Assistance) Florida Program is Florida’s federally funded emergency rental assistance relief program to support residents and business as they continue to recover and rebuild.
Residents who rent their homes are eligible if they:
· Earn an income at or below 80% of the AMI; and
· Have qualified for unemployment, experienced a loss of income, incurred significant costs or faced financial hardships due to the recent public health emergency; and
· Are at risk of losing their home or are living in unstable or unhealthy conditions.
Eligible Florida renters can qualify for up to 15 months of rent and utility payments. This includes 12 months of past due rent and utilities and three months of forward-looking rent payments. (See the “frequently asked questions” at https://www.ourflorida.com/
To learn more about eligibility, required documentation, and how to apply, visit OURFlorida.com.
OUR Florida is a program of the Florida Department of Children and Families. The federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program provides funding.
This assistance is only available via the OURFlorida.com web portal or by calling 833-493-0594. The phone line is available 7 days a week from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST.
Media Release: Flagler County. Julie Murphy, MPIO. Lacy Martin, Marketing Media Manager
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