Sarasota County’s Emergency Rental Assistance program Has Money to Give

Sarasota County’s Emergency Rental Assistance program Has Money to Give

As the program approaches its one-year mark, Sarasota County’s Emergency Rental Assistance program has disbursed more than $10 million to the Sarasota County community, helping residents who have faced financial hardships during the COVID-19 pandemic stay in their homes or obtain funds to move into new rentals.  

These funds assisted more than 867 unique households.  

“We are proud of our program’s ability to continue to provide assistance directly to those in our community throughout the last year,” said Sarasota County ERAP manager Laurel Varnell.   

Sarasota County’s Emergency Rental Assistance program launched May 5, 2021, after receiving funding from the U.S. Department of Treasury. In the first three months after applications opened, the program provided more than $1 million in rent and utility assistance.

Now, the program averages around $250,000 disbursed every week.  

Since the launch, ERAP’s staff of application reviewers and program ambassadors, working in close collaboration with the Sarasota County’s Clerk of the Circuit Court and County Comptroller's Office, have worked thousands of hours to assist with the disbursal of a total $10 million so far.  

“The dedication of the ERAP staff has shown is part of why this program is so successful. They work tirelessly to try and get assistance out as quickly as possible,” said Varnell.  

Applications for the Sarasota County ERAP are still being accepted.

To learn more about ERAP, how to apply and the program ambassadors, visit scgov.net/rent or call 941-861-RENT. 

Disbursement updates from Sarasota County ERAP: 

·Program Launch: May 5, 2021. 

·July 2021: $1 million  

·September 2021: $3 million disbursed. 

·November 2021: $5 million disbursed  

·February 2022: $8 million disbursed.  

·April 2022: $10 million disbursed.  

 

ERA1 disbursed: $9,550,907.00 (approximately 81% of ERA1 allocated for rental and utility expenses).  

Number of households assisted: 835 

ERA2 disbursed: $493,866.00 

Number of households assisted: 120 

 

Sarasota County ERAP is funded through two funding sources from U.S. Department of Treasury: ERA 1 and ERA 2. For more information on the funding sources, visit the U.S Department of Treasury ERA website.