The city is making $10 million available to help renters and landlords after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s authority to declare a nationwide moratorium on evictions.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office confirmed Aug. 31 that eviction notices are being served to tenants who are behind on rent payments.
The money comes from what remains in the federally funded rental assistance program.
The city will open the application portal at 8 a.m. Sept.3. Applications will be accepted until the money runs out.
The aid is available to cover up to 12 months of rent and utility payments with the option for an additional three months if determined necessary to ensure housing stability.
Partnering agencies JEA and the United Way of Northeast Florida will continue to administer the program.
Federal guidelines require qualifying households to have an income that falls below 80% of the area median income:
• One person, $42,000
• Two people, $48,000
• Three people, $54,000
• Four people, $60,000
• Five people, $64,800
• Six people, $69,600
• Seven people, $74,400
• Eight people, $79,200
Applicants must bBe a resident of Duval County, which includes the Beaches and Baldwin.
An eligible household must include one or more people who are obligated to pay rent on a residential dwelling in Duval County and must demonstrate that:
• One or more people within the household qualified for unemployment benefits or experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs or other financial hardship due, directly or indirectly, to COVID-19 and can attest to that in writing;
• One or more people within the household can demonstrate a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability, which may include a past due utility or rent notice or eviction notice; unsafe or unhealthy living conditions; or any other evidence of such risk, as determined by the city.
Priority will be given to households that have incomes at or below 50% of the area median income or have one or more members who have been unemployed for at least 90 days.
To apply, visit www.coj.net/erap