Behind on Your Rent or Mortgage Payments - Manatee County Has Free Money Through the Cares Act, For You - There are Still 1,000 Openings for Renters. And Homeowners You Only Have Until This Friday (4/2/21) to Apply
How to Get the Free Money for Rental Assistance
Emergency Rental Assistance helps residents financially impacted by COVID-19
Program helps with past-due rent & electric bills
MANATEE COUNTY, FL (March 30, 2021) – One day after the federal ban on renter evictions wasextended through the end of June, Manatee County is making another push to remind local renters and landlords that help is available for those who have fallen behind on rent payments as a result of losses from the pandemic.
Since launching six weeks ago, 430 Manatee County residents have applied for assistance from the Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program. County officials say there's enough funding to serve up to 1,500 people a month for much of 2021. Eligible renters may receive grant funds for up to 12 months of assistance, if needed, through November 2021, whichever is less. Funds will be paid directly to the landlord for delinquent rent bills. Full details and the application portal can be found at www.mymanatee.org/renthelp
Applicants must be at or below 80 percent of the area median income (AMI), which is $43,850/year for a one-person household. Renters who are at or below 50 percent of the AMI ($26,800/year for a one-person household) are given priority, along with those who have documented unemployment for more than 90 days. This is based on the number of people living in your household and the total income for all in your household (including spouse, roommate, elderly parent, adult children, etc.).
"We're actively promoting the ERA program through local non-profits and partner agencies, but we're also looking for residents to help spread the word," said Geri Lopez, director of the Redevelopment and Economic Opportunity Department. "We have a number of resources to help renters with their bills, but they need to know where to find that information and they need to apply now."
Manatee County homeowners have until Friday to apply for assistance from the Mortgage Assistance Program (MAP). That program provides grants to homeowners residing in Manatee County and its municipalities who are delinquent on mortgage payments due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as of March 1, 2020. Forty four residents have applied for help through the MAP.
How to Get the Free Money for Mortgage Assistance
Manatee County homeowners who need mortgage assistance due to COVID-19 have until 5 p.m. this Friday (4/2/21) to apply for the Mortgage Assistance Program. Grants of up to $10,000 to cover delinquent mortgage payments are available.
Manatee County allocated up to $500,000 of the current round CARES Act money for the program, with slots available for up to 75 applicants. As of Tuesday, 44 residents had applied, according to Manatee County.
To qualify, household members must earn less than 150% of the area medium income. (That would be an income of less than $80,400 for a single-person household or less than $151,500 for an eight-person household.)
The funds are paid out directly to the homeowner’s lender or mortgage company.
Visit mymanatee.org/manateecares for more information and to apply.
For more information on Manatee County Government, visit www.mymanatee.org or call (941) 748-4501.
You can also follow on Facebook at www.facebook.com/manatee.county.fl and on Twitter @ManateeGov.